Poverty Was A Fight I Won —Patoranking

Patoranking is one of the Nigerian musicians who associates with his root. The singer has, on many occasions, inspired his enormous fan base with his life story, coming from the slum to make it big in the music industry.

Patoranking has, however, described poverty as a fight he had no choice but to conquer in a recent podcast hosted gospel musician Tim Godfrey. He added that he now wants other children living in the slum to believe they can as well make it like him.

“Growing up, I had always known I would make it (be successful). Not because there was everything around me, but because that was the only option I had. Coming from the slum, poverty mindset does not give one the opportunity to think far. It was a fight and I won. I told myself I want to become a symbol of hope to other kids living in the slum. I want them to know it is possible for them to be successful,” he shared.

Patoranking, the firstborn of his family, noted that it became very necessary for him to lead by good examples and show his younger siblings that everything would be fine. “As the first child, it is very important to lead by example. I had to give my siblings the assurance of better days. I had to tell them that everything will be fine. I worked hard and did a whole lot just to beat poverty.”

Continuing on his struggle to make it in life, he divulged that there were some dos and don’ts he tolerated. “Some people say success is relative; it depends on what success means to you. I came from a home in the ghetto but despite that, there were some dos and don’ts we had to abide with.”

Narrating how he started music, the ‘Abule’ singer said his career in music started in the church. He further disclosed he was told veteran gospel musician Sinach used to carry him. “I started singing in church— Christ Embassy, Satellite Town (branch) in Lagos around 1997 and 1998. My mum used to tell me that when I was little, Sinach (popular Gospel singer) used to carry me.”