Ayo Maff, a rising star in the music industry, has shared his story of rising from the rough alleys of Shomolu, Lagos, to the limelight.
He talked about leaving his family home at the age of sixteen in order to give his loved ones a better future in a recent Hip TV interview.
Maff described Shomolu as a difficult but dynamic area that influenced his viewpoint and fuelled the unadulterated genuineness of his music, saying that as the oldest kid, he felt obligated to better his family’s situation.
To pursue his ambitions, the 19-year-old singer moved in with friends for over a year, reassuring his concerned mother he would stay connected.
He said: “As the first child of my family, I left home at 16 because it was not easy there.
“Life in Shomolu is hard, fun and also exciting. Without living in Shomolu I wouldn’t have the experiences of singing about them. I wouldn’t have truly seen the reality of life that shaped me.
“I looked around and realised that I had to go out and make it for these people (his family). So, I just leave to stay with my friend for one year and a few months. My mum was concerned when I was leaving, but I assured her that I would be coming to check on them.”
The hardships and energy of Shomolu inspired his breakout 2024 single Dealer, a collaboration with Fireboy DML that propelled him to stardom.