Zlatan Ibile reveals the painful past behind his new album

Nigerian rapper and Zanku crooner, Temidayo Omoniyi, popularly known as Zlatan Ibile, has opened up on the struggles that shaped his journey into music and the inspiration behind his new album, “Symbol of Hope.”

In a revealing interview with Apple Music’s Nandi Madida, Zlatan disclosed that his dream of pursuing higher education was cut short after he failed his Mathematics and Accounting exams, preventing him from gaining university admission in 2011.

“I never planned to become an artiste. My dad is a pastor, and I used to play drums in church. When I failed my exam, I started following a friend to the studio. My first song was rubbish, but when my siblings heard it, they made me feel like Jay-Z,” he said.

According to Zlatan, his turning point came when he won a rap competition during his first semester in university, beating 140 contestants and taking home a car—an experience that convinced him to take music seriously.

“That moment changed my life. I realized music could actually take me from nothing to something,” he added.

Sharing the inspiration behind his upcoming album, Symbol of Hope, Zlatan said it reflects his journey from humble beginnings to international success and is aimed at motivating others from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“People message me saying my music keeps them going. This album is my way of telling them, ‘If I can make it, you can too.’”

Zlatan also recounted how he created the globally recognized dance move Zanku (“Zlatan Abeg No Kill Us”), which went viral and cemented his name in pop culture.

“There’s no way you mention Zanku without mentioning Zlatan. Growing up, I wanted to have my own dance move, and when it happened, it went global,” he said.