Singer Bella Shmurda has opened up about the financial challenges many Nigerian artists face due to overspending on luxury items.
In an appearance on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, he explained how extravagant spending on jewelry and cars often prevents artists from funding their own projects without the support of record labels.
He acknowledged making similar mistakes early in his career but emphasized how he’s since learned to prioritize simplicity.
According to Bella Shmurda, branding doesn’t require materialism; good grooming and dressing well can be enough.
This emphasis on luxury, he argues, leads young artists to seek advances, resulting in debt and loss of creative control.
He advocates for financial education and responsible spending habits within the industry.
He said: “I don’t think packaging has to be materialistic. Having good clothes on you, looking nice, nice skin, brushing your teeth, smelling well is okay, if you know how to dress without chains. I mean some of us don’t have these things before, and we looked good. This guy doesn’t have a chain on, and he looks good. He’s not dirty. I mean, that’s packaged enough for your purpose.
“It’s because of the too much emphasis on expensive packaging that our young artists now run towards advances and they end up being indebted to those companies. And the companies have to hold their catalogue for years.
“It’s because of these materials things that they go into debts. They can’t even fund their next project because they do use their money buy big motor. I made that mistake too but I learnt. And I feel like we just have to educate ourselves about these things.”
