Popular Nigerian singer Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, widely known as Bella Shmurda, has shared a revealing story from his early days in the music industry. The Afro-street sensation confessed to stealing a young boy’s bicycle and selling it to fund his initial recording sessions.
Desperate Times in Okokomaiko
During a recent appearance on Echo Room TV, the singer recounted the struggles he faced while living in the Okokomaiko suburb of Lagos. Driven by an intense passion for music but lacking the financial resources to pay for recording time, he resorted to desperate measures.
According to the singer, he took the bicycle and sold it at the Alaba International Market for a mere N7,000, using the proceeds directly to pay for studio sessions.
“When we lived in Okoko, I once stole a boy’s bicycle and sold it at Alaba for N7,000 to pay for studio sessions,” Bella Shmurda admitted during the interview.
Making Amends and Finding Success
While the memory remains a painful point of self-reflection, Bella Shmurda revealed that he has since made amends. After achieving financial stability and mainstream success, he actively sought out the victim of his theft and bought him a brand-new replacement bicycle.
Bella Shmurda’s breakthrough in the Nigerian music industry came in 2019 following a highly successful collaboration with legendary rapper Olamide. Since then, he has risen to become one of the most prominent voices in the contemporary Afrobeats scene, transforming his life from a struggling street artist into a national star.