Peter Okoye, known professionally as Mr. P, recently commemorated the 43rd birthday of his brother Paul Okoye, also known as Rudeboy. The two twin brothers are widely known as P-Square.
Peter utilized his Instagram platform to share nostalgic photographs celebrating this significant occasion. It appears that the brothers have reconciled their previous discord to honor their shared birthday.
In his post accompanying the throwback images, Peter expressed, “Happy Birthday to us! Stay winning.”
P-Square is a prominent Nigerian music duo formed by twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye, who collaboratively write and produce the majority of their musical compositions.
Renowned for their artistic evolution, musical versatility, and visual aesthetics, they are regarded as one of the most impactful African musical acts of all time and are recognized as one of the most successful music groups to emerge from Africa.
Their contributions were instrumental to the development of popular music across the continent during the 2000s and 2010s. P-Square garnered widespread recognition following the release of their hit single “Senorita” in 2003 and achieved further acclaim with the launch of their second album, "Get Squared", in 2005.
This album's success led to a nomination for the Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2006. A significant figure in 21st-century African popular culture, P-Square was honored with the "Artistes of the Decade" award at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2015.
Although originally from Anambra State, Peter and Paul Okoye were born on November 18, 1981, in Jos, Nigeria, to Josephine Okoye, a pastor, and Pa Moses Okoye, a businessman.
The twins, along with their siblings—Jude, Mary, Tony, Lilian, and Ifeanyi Okoye—were raised within a Catholic household, instilled with Christian values.
Their interest in the performing arts developed during their time at St. Murumba College, a Catholic institution in Jos. They participated in the school’s music and drama club, where they began their journey in singing and dancing, drawing inspiration from renowned artists such as Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson, and MC Hammer.
While in school, they initially formed an A cappella quartet, which later evolved into a pop-oriented dance group that featured choreographed performances. Their artistic talents and refined dance routines contributed to their prominence in Jos, where they performed at various school and community events.
Motivated by the success of Nigeria's Olympic team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the brothers briefly pursued careers in football at the Pepsi Football Academy in Jos, where they played alongside Mikel John Obi, who was part of the junior team at that time.
Subsequently, in 1997, they established a music and dance group called “Smooth Criminal.” By 1999, they had expanded their artistic repertoire to include various instruments, such as keyboards, bass, drums, and guitar.
Their creative contributions also encompass soundtracks for films, including Tobi, Mama Sunday, Moment of Bitterness, and Evas River. Despite their parents’ desires for them to pursue academic careers, Peter and Paul remained devoted to their musical aspirations.
After completing their diploma programs at the University of Jos, they transitioned to the University of Abuja in 1999, where they pursued a degree in Business Administration.