Nigerian singer Korede Bello has stirred conversation after urging couples to consider having more children, arguing that larger families increase the chances of producing exceptional talents.
Speaking in a video broadcast, Bello suggested that the birth of global music icon Michael Jackson might never have happened if his parents had chosen to have fewer children. Jackson was the seventh child in his family, a detail Bello used to support his point about probability and talent.
He expressed concern over what he described as a growing global trend toward smaller families, noting that it is increasingly uncommon to find young couples raising three or more children.
“I have been wondering – what if Michael Jackson’s mother had stopped at two or six kids? He was the seventh. Imagine a world without him just because she chose fewer children,” he said.
“We Need More Michael Jacksons” — Bello Says Talent Depends on Numbers
Bello argued that reducing family size could unintentionally limit the emergence of extraordinary individuals in future generations.
“What is going with this fewer kids people are having nowadays. I understand that the economic situation limits our desires to populate the earth. But how are we going to continue like this? Are we ever going to get to a place where the house will be filled with children again? We need more Michael Jacksons.”
He acknowledged economic pressures affecting family planning decisions but still encouraged a cultural shift toward larger households.
Debate Over Family Size and Modern Economics
His remarks tap into a broader global conversation about declining birth rates, urbanisation, and rising living costs, which many experts say are influencing smaller family preferences worldwide.
While Bello frames his argument around creativity and the “probability” of producing geniuses, critics of such views often point out that talent development depends more on environment, opportunity, and education than sheer population size.
Still, the singer’s comments have added a cultural and philosophical layer to ongoing discussions about family planning, generational change, and societal priorities in modern times.