Sarkodie Says Billionaires Are Funding Nigerian Artists

Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has said Nigerian artists enjoy greater financial support from billionaires and business executives than their Ghanaian counterparts.

Speaking on a recent episode of the When We Sit podcast, the rapper said many Ghanaian musicians pursue their careers without significant financial backing from local business executives.
According to Sarkodie, Nigerian businessmen are more willing to support and invest in musical talent, giving Nigerian artists a financial advantage in the African music industry.

“What Ghanaian artists do is organic. I give a business plan, even with that it is hard to get some people to come in. But in Nigeria, I think they take a lot of risk, most of the rich people with money, take a lot of risk to put their people on. If I breakdown what it takes to do the O2 Arena, you will freak out, but then we still have to do it,” he said.

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He recalled meeting Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu and said he was surprised by the amount Elumelu disclosed he was investing in a Nigerian artist whom Sarkodie believes represents the future of Afrobeats.
Sarkodie added in part …

“I met Tony Elumelu in a suit store in London. He remembered booking me for his bank’s end-of-year party. He said he’s supporting a Nigerian artiste he believes is the future of Afrobeats. The amount he’s given to the artiste is huge. Ghanaians don’t have that.”

The rapper urged wealthy Ghanaians and business executives to emulate their Nigerian counterparts by investing in local artists and providing financial support to help grow Ghana’s music industry.