Early Life
Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael, known professionally as Zlatan Ibile, was born on 19 December 1994 in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in Ikorodu, though his family roots trace back to Ijurin, Ekiti State. His father is a pastor, and Zlatan grew up playing the church drums before turning to music more broadly. He completed his primary and secondary education in Lagos before earning a Higher National Diploma in Business Administration from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta, Ogun State, graduating in 2011.
Career
Zlatan’s musical journey began with freestyling in Yoruba during his secondary school years. In 2014, at 19, he won the Airtel-sponsored One Mic Campus Tour talent competition in Abeokuta, an early breakthrough that pushed him toward music full-time. His first widely recognised hit came with the Olamide-assisted single “My Body” in 2017, followed by “Zanku” in 2018, which introduced a new dance style of the same name (an acronym for “Zlatan Abeg No Kill Us”) that went on to become a nationwide cultural phenomenon.
He released his debut studio album, ‘Zanku,’ on 3 November 2019, cementing his status as one of the leading figures in Nigeria’s street-pop and Afrobeats scene. Known for his catchphrase “Kapaichumarimarichopaco” and further hits including “Yeye Boyfriend” and “Able God” alongside Chinko Ekun and Lil Kesh, Zlatan built a reputation as both a hitmaker and a cultural trendsetter. He is the founder and CEO of Zanku Records, and has continued releasing new material, including his 2025 album “Symbol of Hope.” He has also collaborated extensively with fellow Nigerian artists, including a 2023 hit single, “Let There Be Light,” alongside Seyi Vibez.
Personal Life
Zlatan has said his childhood dream was to become a professional footballer rather than a musician, and his stage name was inspired by comparisons of his playing style to footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
With a career built on viral dance movements, street-pop hits and his own record label, Zlatan Ibile remains one of the defining voices and trendsetters of modern Nigerian street-pop.
