Mr P Claps Back at Critics Demanding Retirement Over Age as Age Debate Hits Afrobeats Scene

Nigerian music star Peter Okoye, widely known as Mr P, has pushed back strongly after a social media user suggested he should quit music because of his age.

The former P-Square member became the centre of online debate after a fan on X argued that the 44-year-old singer was “almost 50” and should step away from Afrobeats, sparking heated reactions across social media.

The fan, identified as OloriOfOloris, made the comment while reacting to a clip from Mr P’s recent music video, insisting that it was time for the artist to retire from performing.

The post quickly drew backlash, including a response from media personality Do2dtun, who dismissed the argument as age-based discrimination in entertainment.

Do2dtun pointed out that several global music stars, including Beyoncé, Shakira, Celine Dion, and the Backstreet Boys, are older than Mr P and still active in the industry.

According to him, age does not determine relevance in music, especially when many international artists continue to dominate global stages well into later stages of their careers.

Mr P later joined the conversation, indirectly addressing the criticism and suggesting that some of the arguments were driven by bias and emotional attachment to the defunct P-Square group.

He described the backlash as hypocritical, noting that fans who celebrate older international performers often apply different standards when it comes to Nigerian artists.

“After dem realize say all those narratives no hold water, dem come with another one: ‘Now he is too old to be singing and dancing,’” he wrote.

He further questioned why artists like Usher, Beyoncé, and Chris Brown are praised for longevity in music, while similar expectations are used to criticise him.

The exchange has reignited wider conversations about ageism in Afrobeats and whether Nigerian artists are held to different standards compared to their global counterparts.