Peter Okoye rejects ageist criticism of his music career after a fan urged him to retire, sparking online debate over his age and Afrobeats

Nigerian singer and half of the former P-Square duo, Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has strongly pushed back against criticism suggesting he should retire from music due to his age, in a heated exchange that has sparked widespread debate on social media.

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Peter Okoye ageist criticism music career controversy began after a user on the social media platform X, identified as OloriOfOloris, suggested that the 44-year-old Afrobeats star was “almost 50” and should step away from music.

The user wrote while reacting to a clip from Mr P’s music video: “I don’t get why an almost 50 year old man is still singing like this. It’s okay to retire.”

The comment quickly drew backlash online, with media personality Do2dtun challenging the argument and defending Mr P’s continued relevance in the music industry.

Do2dtun pointed to several internationally recognised performers, including Beyoncé, Shakira, Celine Dion and the Backstreet Boys, noting that many artists continue performing successfully well into older age brackets.

Peter Okoye later responded directly to the criticism, describing such remarks as hypocritical and driven by sentiment rather than fact.

In his reaction, he suggested that some of his critics were former fans of the defunct P-Square duo who had turned against him.

The singer argued that global music icons continue to be celebrated despite their age, questioning why similar standards were being applied to him.

“After dem realize say all those narratives no hold water, dem come with another one,” he said, adding that claims about age were being selectively applied within the industry.

He further stressed that international stars such as Usher, Beyoncé and Chris Brown continue to thrive in music and performance, despite being older than him.

The exchange has reignited wider conversations around ageism in entertainment, particularly within Afrobeats, where artists are increasingly challenging traditional expectations around career longevity.

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Industry observers note that the debate reflects a growing shift in global music culture, where experience and performance longevity are increasingly valued alongside youth-driven trends.