“Many artistes are turning to drugs due to rejection” – MI Abaga

• Popular hip hop star, MI Abaga voices concerns over mental health issues prevalent in the entertainment industry, citing rejection and negativity as major contributors.
• MI Abaga notes that many artists turn to drug abuse as a coping mechanism, particularly after achieving success, due to the lack of support systems.
• MI Abaga advocates for decentralizing the entertainment industry to foster development, drawing comparisons with thriving hubs in other countries.

Nigerian hip hop star and music executive, Jude Abaga, popularly known as MI, has shed light on the prevalent issue of mental health challenges in the entertainment industry.

In an interview, MI Abaga expressed his concerns, pointing out the susceptibility of individuals in the creative sphere to such issues.

According to MI Abaga, creatives, including artists, are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges due to the constant barrage of rejection, hopelessness, and negativity they often encounter.

He emphasized that the situation exacerbates for successful artists, leading many to resort to drug abuse as a coping mechanism.

“Creatives are generally more at risk of mental health challenges to the extent that even when we are in the middle of it, there is no support. We face a lot of rejection, hopelessness and negativity. Yet, when one becomes successful, it gets even worse.

The problem is so big and many artists are turning to drug abuse. We need to tackle the issue collectively to find ways to help creatives in Nigeria and Africa when faced with rejection,” MI Abaga said.

MI Abaga went on to address the need for decentralization in the entertainment industry as a means of fostering its growth and development.

Drawing parallels with countries like South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom, he emphasized the importance of creating thriving entertainment hubs across various regions.

“The entertainment industry needs to be decentralised for it to really develop. Take South Africa for instance, if I want to shoot a film, it is probably better to go to Cape Town, and if I want to shoot a music video, I would go to Johannesburg. The more we develop in different areas, the better the country gets.

“Also, in the United States of America, there are places like Atlanta, New York, Texas that have thriving entertainment hubs, and in the United Kingdom, there are places like London and Liverpool.

“But, in Nigeria, we only have Lagos and there is a drop off. However, places like Plateau State can really develop and be a part of the industry. For people like me, who have been in the industry for a while, and have had the opportunity to learn, this is a great time to give back, and I’m starting from Jos,” he added.