Vanessa Mdee’s Reasons for Leaving Music: A Path of Peace, Family, and Faith

Vanessa Mdee’s amazing metamorphosis!

She chose to live a spiritual life with Rotimi after leaving the toxic music industry. 
She now has two children and views their union as a “kingdom marriage.”
Take a listen to this article.

Once a well-known personality who appeared on African Voices in 2017 at the height of her success, Tanzanian music sensation Vanessa Mdee has had a significant metamorphosis in the last eight years.

Her journey is a powerful story of self-discovery, faith, and unwavering love. It was characterized by a significant change from the music industry to a very spiritual, family-focused existence in Atlanta with her husband Rotimi.

The Sad Departure of Music

Her exit from the music industry may have surprised those who followed Vanessa Mdee’s thriving career. The singer, who is well-known for her upbeat live performances and catchy songs, told CNN’s African correspondent Larry Madowo that her decision stemmed from a deep urge to protect herself. 

One thing I no longer do is release music for the industry. I don’t work in the music business. She said bluntly, “I have no interest in being a part of any chart anything.”

This big change was made for very personal reasons that had to do with her health. The music industry was “depleting my mental, spiritual, emotional, physical health in many ways,” as Mdee freely admits. 

In the end, she acknowledged that “the music industry became extremely toxic for me” after succumbing to “many different vices that were not good for me as a person that was depleting my being.” She is incredibly thankful for the past, even if she admits that this was her particular experience and not typical. 

I’m honored to have had a musical moment that influenced and cleared the path for a lot of young females. She says, “I’m really proud of the work I’ve done, and I love my fans who still rock with me to this day.” She also expresses gratitude for the opportunity, exposure, and experience. She thinks that “God’s glory” will now be utilized for this influential platform.

A Contemporary Love Story with a Religious Foundation

Vanessa’s marriage to Nigerian-American singer and actor Rotimi is closely related to her changed life. What they refer to as a “modern-day love story” began when their worlds collided in 2019.

She claims that the unique foundations of this partnership are mutual development, shared values, and faith. Rotimi and Vanessa, who are now married and proud parents of two kids, have inspired millions of others. They publicly state that they intend to serve as models for what a kingdom marriage entails.

Their first meeting sounds like it belongs in a love movie. In 2019, both were performing separately at the Essence Festival’s mainstage in New Orleans. They ended up at a Spotify event where Rotimi fell in love with Vanessa right away. 

Rotimi remembers his initial reaction: “Yoh, who is this?” “She was sitting on a pool table and the lights were glowing and beaming,” he adds. Introduced by a common friend, the two artists would soon set out on a voyage that would change their lives.

A Common Spiritual and Family Life Path in Atlanta

Their strong bond and common spiritual path led them to decide to start a life together, with their main residence in Atlanta. Both Rotimi and Vanessa have a strong religious upbringing; they are both the children of preachers. Instilling faith in her daughter was a constant goal for Vanessa’s mother, a pastor who leads a church in Arusha, Tanzania. Even when she was performing,

Vanessa acknowledges, “I used to pray all the time. Never stop praying. I promise you that it didn’t look like this. I would be praying, and I didn’t drink for that. However, I’m stating that God has advanced us significantly. 

She emphasizes that her life with Rotimi is “only God” because she has seen the “hand of God” throughout her life’s journey.

Their daily lives demonstrate their dedication to their faith. Currently, Vanessa organizes a women’s conference and the pair hosts a Bible study, which she describes as “our form of” outreach. 

Given their basic commitment to faith and their kingdom marriage as a model for others, they were surprised but receptive to the idea of if they may start their church. Giving “God all the glory,” they believe that if a road like that is “meant to be,” it will be, and if “that’s what we’re told to do, then we’ll do it.”