Nigerian hip-hop artist Erhiga Agarivbie, popularly known as Erigga, expressed frustration that despite leaving home at the age of eight and self-training to achieve success, his father feels entitled to his wealth.
He mentioned that his father was not part of his upbringing, but once he achieved success, the father started reconnecting and making requests.
The Warri-born rapper shared this revelation in the recent episode of the Spill With Phyna podcast.
Erigga said, “When you see parents start feeling entitled, it doesn’t make sense because you had many years ahead of me, why didn’t make it before me? People don’t really address this entitlement mentality in Africa.
“I was facing the street alone. I was involved in too many things that I can’t even say on camera. And I just keep wondering like what if I was shot or arrested? Because most of the people I was with then are either dead or in jail.
“I’ve to start raising myself at the age of 8. I started living with my friends and learning bad habits. But then again, I fell in love with music at a very tender age so I knew where I wanted to be regardless of where I was. Then many years later, I now become Erigga then somebody comes and say, ‘Yo! You’re not taking care of me. You’re not doing this and that.’ And I’m like, ‘Bro, na relations we be because you no father the father wey you suppose father normally. I don father myself alone. And I can’t give you the credit.”
“All my stepbrothers started begging me to forgive our dad, saying he wasn’t also responsible to them. But at the end of the day, they are only having the conversation with me because I am who I am.”