Peter and Paul Okoye turn 33

P-Square brothers Paul and Peter Okoye are celebrating their 33rd birthday.

The duo have been household names in the music industry for more than a decade. With several accolades to their credit as well as endorsement deals with local and international outfits, they are renowned as some of the top successful artistes to have emerged from Africa.

Born on November 18, 1981 in Jos, Nigeria to Moses and Josephine (late) Okoye, Paul and Peter hail from Ifite Dunu, Anambra state, Nigeria. The P-Square story began at St. Murumba Secondary School, a catholic school in Jos, where they joined the music and drama club where they began singing, dancing and mimicking songs by MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson.

They later formed an a cappella quartet called “MMMPP” (M Clef a.k.a. Itemoh, Michael, Melvin, Peter and Paul), which was later changed to “MMPP” when they dropped M Clef from the group .

Drawing inspiration from their music idol, Michael Jackson, they began break-dancing, forming the group called ‘Smooth Criminals’ in 1997.

They soon became household names in the city of Jos, where they performed at school functions and other occasions. Later in 1999, Peter and Paul returned to music school to develop their skills on keyboard, drums, bass and rhythm guitar.

In 2001, P-Square won the ‘Grab Da Mic’ competition, which meant Benson & Hedges sponsored their debut album, Last Nite, released under Timbuk2 music label. They were also nominated as “Most Promising African Group” in the Kora Awards three months after the release of their debut album. They eventually won the 2003 Amen Award for Best R&B Group.

In December 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon’s Konvict Muzik label. Then in May 2012, they also signed a record distribution deal with Universal Music South Africa.

In total, they have six music albums Last Nite (2003), Get Squared (2005), Game Over (2007), Danger (2009), The Invasion (2011) and Double Trouble (2014).

In July 2012, the duo lost their mum to a failed heart operation in a hospital in Kolkata, India.

“You know that she was a prayer warrior, so I don’t need to tell you how she stood by us spiritually. Besides, she was the only one that believed in us when we decided to make a career out of music,” Peter said while being interviewed at her burial.

“I can remember that she used to sneak us out at night then to attend shows without the consent of our father who insisted that we must quit music to face our education.”

The brothers had a difference in opinion regarding what Peter perceived as lopsidedness in individual input of songs getting featured on their joint albums, with Paul getting more of his songs selected. This led to Peter refusing to do anything P-Square for weeks; he relocated, taking his wife and kids from the mansion at Omole where they both lived for years with their extended family.

A lawyer was involved in the attempt to split their fortunes, as they were both involved in joint ventures over the years. But the matter was eventually settled in a validation of the saying that “Blood is thicker than water”.

Between them they have won several awards internationally, including The Headies, Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA), Channel O Music Video Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, KORA Awards among others.

Peter is married to Lola Omotayo-Okoye and together they have two kids, Cameron and Aliona Okoye; while Paul is married to Anita Isama-Okoye and they are blessed with a son, Andre Okoye.

In January 2014, the Okoye brothers bought mansions next door to each another in Atlanta. Who knows what they’re buying next in celebration of their 33rd birthday!