ID Cabasa: ‘Age Doesn’t Equal Wisdom’ – Nigerian Music Executive Challenges Generational Assumptions

Veteran Producer Says Experience Without Growth Can Become Obsolete

Respected Nigerian music executive ID Cabasa has pushed back against the long-held belief that growing older automatically makes a person wiser, arguing instead that competence — not age — should define wisdom.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Clarity Zone, the 50-year-old producer, born Olumide Ogunade, said society often confuses years lived with depth of insight.

“The assumption that the older you get, the wiser you are has never been true,” he said. “I am not saying older people are not smart or wise.”

‘Experience Is Not Always Competence’

Cabasa explained that while experience can shape perspective, it does not automatically translate into relevance or skill.

“Most times, people see themselves as wiser because they are more experienced, not competent. But most of the experiences that you are bringing, a lot of them are obsolete,” he said.

According to the veteran producer, the real measure of wisdom lies in continuous growth. Without deliberate learning and adaptation, aging becomes a passive process rather than a transformative one.

“If you are growing as a person, there is a tendency that as you get older, you are going to be wiser. But that isn’t the case if you are not growing but just aging,” he added.

A Generational Shift in Perspective

Cabasa pointed to the widening gap between older generations and younger people raised in the digital age. He noted that today’s youth were born into technology — not introduced to it later in life.

“We are dealing with a generation that came with computer OS, but you learned how to use computer,” he said, urging caution against demanding respect solely on the basis of age.

A Debate Beyond Music

Although widely known for his impact on Nigeria’s music industry, Cabasa’s remarks have sparked a broader conversation about generational dynamics, relevance, and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

At a time when technology and culture are evolving faster than ever, his comments underscore a growing sentiment: wisdom may be less about how long one has lived — and more about how willing one is to evolve.