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M.I Abaga Recounts How He Was Chased Off the 2008 Headies Red Carpet for Omotola — “Two Hours Later, I Held My First Award”
Nigerian rap legend M.I Abaga, whose real name is Jude Abaga, has opened up about one of the most humbling and defining moments of his early career. In a recent interview on the Vbyz TV Cartel Show, the 44-year-old rapper revisited a memory from the 2008 Headies Awards—a moment that reminded him how unpredictable the journey to stardom can be.
The award show, one of Nigeria’s biggest entertainment events, happened during a period when M.I was still pushing hard but had not yet gained mainstream recognition. Despite being nominated for the prestigious ‘Best Rap Single’, the rapper said he walked into the venue with no one recognising him, not even the event coordinators or red carpet handlers. The months leading up to the event had been filled with intense work, studio sessions, and strategic planning, yet fame had not fully caught up with his talent.
According to M.I, he showed up at the red carpet excited and hopeful, but his expectations quickly collided with the reality of his low visibility at the time. He recounted how he and his manager tried to get the attention of photographers and media personnel, but no one seemed to care who they were. The rapper said the staff treated them like random guests who had no business being on the red carpet.
He described how event officials repeatedly asked him to step aside so that celebrity actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, one of Nollywood’s biggest stars, could have space to take photos. Each time Omotola moved to pose for photographers, the red carpet crew would chase M.I and his manager further away. To them, he was just another unknown face blocking their view of the superstar they actually wanted to capture.
In his words:
“The people on the red carpet did not even know I was nominated, so they were just like ‘Common, get out of here.’ We went to stand at one other corner, and because Omotola was moving from side to side to take her picture, they kept chasing us from place to place.”
For M.I, this moment was a mixture of frustration and inspiration. While he felt embarrassed, he also found himself observing the power of stardom right before his eyes. Seeing Omotola command the entire red carpet space made him realise just how far he still needed to go to carve out his own place in the industry.
But the night had a twist he never expected.
Just two hours later, the same unknown rapper who had been pushed aside and ignored walked onto the stage to receive his first major industry recognition—a gold plaque personally handed to him by Ayo Animashaun, the founder of Hip TV and the Headies Awards. That single award instantly reshaped his trajectory.
M.I described the moment as surreal. The same people who dismissed him earlier suddenly wanted pictures, interviews, and conversations. His name began to circulate with new respect. The industry, the crowd, and even the red carpet handlers quickly shifted their tone — “MI is in the game,” they said.
After winning that award, his career took a meteoric rise. He released some of the most career-defining records of his catalogue, including “Safe,” “Talk About It,” and “Incredible Music.” Those singles marked the beginning of a new era in Nigerian hip-hop and cemented his legacy as one of Africa’s greatest rappers.
Today, M.I Abaga is celebrated as a pioneer, an icon, and a major force who redefined modern rap in Nigeria. But his 2008 Headies experience serves as a powerful reminder: success doesn’t always come when expected, and recognition sometimes arrives only after the world has doubted you.
His story is a lesson in perseverance, humility, and unwavering belief in one’s craft. From being pushed off the red carpet to becoming the center of attention within the same night, M.I’s journey shows that the road to greatness is filled with moments that test character — and ultimately shape legends.
M.I’s recount of that night continues to inspire young artists, reminding them never to let temporary humiliation overshadow long-term vision.