Nigerian singer and songwriter Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus, widely known as Joeboy, has shared his unconventional perspective on marriage, family life, and his plans out of the spotlight.
Reflecting on relationships, the singer shared insights drawn from public personalities, noting how opinions can shift over time.
He stated, “I saw an interview of Timini. He’s like the ideal playboy; almost all the girls claim to love him, and he was like, he wished he got married early. I was like, if you’re a playboy and you can say this, that means marrying early might actually be nice,” Joeboy explained.
He added that while marrying early appeals to him, timing remains a personal choice rather than a rigid milestone.
“That is not the only identifier for me. But marrying early to someone who you genuinely love is going to be cute. Being 40 and having a 16-year-old kid is cute. But marriage is not really about whenever it feels cool. If it just feels right to you and you love the person, do it.”
Emphasizing his preference for privacy, he concluded, “Personally, I would rather get married early. But if I get married right now, nobody is going to know. Maybe when I have like three kids, people will now find out that Joeboy has a whole family somewhere.”
Born on May 21, 1997, in Lagos State, Nigeria, Joeboy’s journey into the music industry is a textbook definition of digital-age success. Growing up in a musically inclined household where his father played the church keyboard and his siblings exposed him to diverse genres, music became a natural path. He officially launched his professional music career in 2017 after recording a viral cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” which caught the attention of Nigerian-born artist Mr Eazi. Following this discovery, Joeboy was inducted into Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa talent incubator program, which provided the financial and structural backing he needed to break into the mainstream market.
His meteoric rise came in 2019 with the release of breakout smash hits like “Baby” and “Beginning,” both of which dominated airwaves and streaming charts across Nigeria and the wider African continent. These tracks cemented his signature sweet, sun-kissed Afropop and R&B fusion style, earning him massive critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. Later that same year, he released his debut extended play, Love & Light, further solidifying his position as a leading voice in contemporary Nigerian music.
Over the years, Joeboy’s discography has expanded significantly with major chart-topping projects. He released his debut studio album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, in February 2021, followed by his sophomore album, Body & Soul, in May 2023. His catalog is packed with ubiquitous anthems, including “Sip (Alcohol)”, “Door”, “Contour”, and collaborations like DJ Neptune’s “Nobody” alongside Mr Eazi, as well as features on international charts. In a bold entrepreneurial move to take full command of his creative direction, Joeboy launched his own independent imprint, Young Legend, marking a fresh chapter in his ever-evolving career while continuing his global touring footprint.
