Singer Eedris Abdulkareem has sown discord among Nigerian music fans by claiming credit for the revolution that propelled Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and other singers to international stardom.
He claimed that the international renown of Nigerian artists was a direct result of his 2004 rebellion against the unfair treatment of these artists by show promoters in Nigeria, during which he clashed with American rapper 50Cent and his G-Unit bandmates.
Abdulkareem acknowledged that his rebellion had an impact on his career in the most recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, but he went on to say, “it was a beautiful sacrifice that gave birth to Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido.”
“You heard someone like Burna Boy say nobody helped him in Nigeria,” he replied sharply. If it weren’t for those who started the revolution, would you still be famous today? What a foolish statement.
If we hadn’t fought for this industry and made it what it is today, you wouldn’t be where you are now. Most of them, however, do not value it. I could care less.
Although it had an impact on my career, battling for the Nigerian music business was a magnificent sacrifice that led to the birth of Davido, Boy, Wizkid, and everyone else present today.
The fact that our music is now popular all over the globe and that I have carried out God’s will is what matters most to me. The path has been paved for them by me. The onus is on them to value the struggle. And if they don’t, it’s irrelevant to me.