Popular Hip-Hop Artiste, Zlatan Ibile has revealed that as a boy, while growing up in Ikorodu, he used to play drums in his parent’s church.
According to Zlatan, his parents were Redeemed Christian Church of God’s pastors while growing up in the Agbede part of Ikorodu.
In a podcast, Zlatan recounted his struggles growing up in Ikorodu, describing the city as a crazy place to live.
He said as a boy, entertainment for him was playing football, arguing football and watching football.
“I grew up in Ikorodu sharing border with Ogun State. I only came to the Island 2016. I lived in Agbede very close to Itaoluwo, Sagamu, Odogunyan. If we want to withdraw then, you would have to take like two buses from Agbede to Asolo, Asolo to Agric then Ikorodu Garage before you use the ATM. So if you want to withdraw 1000, then you would have to use 500 for transport, and then you would come back with just 500.
“My parents were pastors. They were Redeemed Pastors. I played drums in church. That was what formed the basic of my music. I had knowledge about music from there.
“It was a society where all we did was street football. There was no light, no generator. Once you come back from school then and you drop your school bag, Garri is already waiting for us with Kuli Kuli.
“My mum sells Garri so once I finished drinking the Garri, I go to the field to play football. So the only thing I did for fun then was football and I heard they pay footballers lots of money. So, I was trying to play football at all costs and that was where the name Zlatan came from. From Ibrahimovic.
“He was more like my idol because when I was young, I had this jersey that I wore under my school uniform when I go to school, so when I am back from school, I pull off the school uniform, and then people call me by the name Zlatan, Zlatan pass the ball.”
On the environment being crazy, Zlatan said, “It is crazy, growing up in an environment where you don’t get to see Benz, Prado, your dream is limited. It is just when you finish school, if your parent can’t send you to a higher institution, then you go and do borehole. for the new buildings people were building then. People do boreholes to survive.
“I remember my parents, they really tried. They don’t actually have so much. They tried every possible means. My dad never wore Agbada. We never had DStv or Cable tv till I left home like 15, 16. We never had generator till maybe a year after I left home. We never had a flat screen.
“So my parents just tried to ensure that we went to a private school. Although in a term, they sent me home like four, five times, then I will sneak in stay indoors till other students that they didn’t send home come back from school. That is the only time I could come out and play so people won’t know I didn’t go to school. So the whole set up in Agbede was crazy.”
