MI Abaga has opened up about a moment he has never forgotten from the 2008 Headies Awards, a night that marked a major turning point in his career. The rapper shared that before he became a household name, he was pushed aside on the red carpet so veteran actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde could take her photos.
Speaking during a chat featured on Zoyols Blog, he reflected on how much he had been working at the time without any real recognition. Even though he was nominated for ‘Best Rap Single,’ he said the team on the carpet didn’t know who he was and simply ordered him to step away so Omotola could have the spotlight.
According to him, the experience was humbling. He and his manager quietly shifted to another part of the carpet, only to be chased off again because Omotola’s team kept moving around for pictures. MI described it as his first up-close look at stardom, a reminder of how much further he needed to go.
Everything changed a few hours later. When his name was announced as the winner of ‘Best Rap Single,’ the mood around him instantly shifted. Holding that gold plaque, he said, felt like the start of a new chapter. From that night came the momentum that pushed out hits like “Safe,” “Talk About It,” and “Incredible Music,” cementing his place in the industry.
