MOVING TO AMERICA DIDN’T CHANGE MY LIFE- COMEDIAN TEJU BABYFACE SHARES HARD TRUTH

When I decided to move to America with my family, I thought I was stepping into a better life. I had achieved so much back home, a successful talk show, a solid reputation, and a name people recognized. So, naturally, I felt the next big thing was to explore life abroad.

Like many people, I believed moving to America would automatically make things easier. I imagined a place where everything worked ,stable systems, endless opportunities, a new beginning. But what I didn’t realize was that no country can give you fulfilment if you haven’t found peace within yourself.

The first few months were fine, exciting even. Everything was new, clean, structured. But soon, reality set in. I began to miss home, the warmth of our people, the energy, the culture, the support system. Life in America was different. The pace, the silence, the individualism, it all hit differently.

Then came the Covid pandemic, and that period broke me in a way I can’t fully describe. The world went quiet, and so did I. For almost three years, I felt like I had made the worst mistake of my life. I was far from home, far from the life I built, and I didn’t even recognize myself anymore.

People assumed I relocated because my career was over, but that wasn’t true. I didn’t “japa” out of frustration. I came to America on an Exceptional Ability Visa, a recognition of my achievements in entertainment and communication. Still, that didn’t make it easy. Success doesn’t automatically translate across borders.

Living here taught me that moving abroad doesn’t necessarily change your life, it just changes your location. If you don’t know who you are, anywhere can become a wilderness.

America didn’t change my life; it changed my perspective. It reminded me that fulfilment isn’t found in countries, it’s found in purpose. And sometimes, what we’re looking for out there is already within us.