Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has opened up about the difficult circumstances he faced at the beginning of his music career, revealing that he once stole and sold a bicycle to raise money for studio recording.
The Afro-street music star, whose real name is Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, made the disclosure during an interview with Echo Room TV, recalling his experience while living in Okokomaiko, Lagos.
According to Bella Shmurda, his determination to record music despite financial difficulties led him to take a boy’s bicycle and sell it at Alaba International Market for N7,000.
He explained that the money was used to pay for a studio session at a time when funding his music was a major challenge.
Bella Shmurda said the incident has remained a source of regret for him, but noted that he eventually tried to make amends after his financial situation improved.
The singer revealed that he later located the owner of the bicycle and bought him a replacement as a way of making restitution for what he had done.
Bella Shmurda rose to national prominence after his music gained widespread attention, particularly following his collaboration with Nigerian rapper Olamide in 2019. The breakthrough helped establish him as one of the notable voices in Nigeria’s Afro-street music scene.
His latest revelation offers an insight into the financial struggles and personal experiences that preceded his emergence in the Nigerian music industry.
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