Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has opened up about the difficult circumstances he faced before achieving fame, revealing that he once stole a boy’s bicycle and sold it for N7,000 to raise money for studio recording sessions.
The singer, whose real name is Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, made the revelation while speaking during an interview on Echo Room TV.
According to Bella Shmurda, the incident happened when he was living in Okokomaiko, Lagos, during the early stages of his music career.
He explained that he was desperate to raise money to continue recording music and eventually decided to steal and sell the bicycle.
“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,” he said.
Bella Shmurda reflects on difficult beginnings
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The revelation offers a glimpse into the financial difficulties Bella Shmurda says he experienced while trying to establish himself as a musician.
For aspiring artists, paying for studio time, production and other music-related expenses can be challenging, particularly when they do not have established sources of income.
Bella Shmurda said the incident remains a painful memory for him, suggesting that he now looks back on his actions with regret.
Rather than celebrating the act, the singer explained that he eventually tried to make amends after becoming financially stable.
Singer says he made restitution
Bella Shmurda revealed that after his circumstances improved, he sought out the person whose bicycle he had taken.
He said he subsequently purchased a replacement bicycle for the boy as a form of restitution.
The move, according to the singer’s account, reflected his desire to correct a wrong from his past after he became financially capable of doing so.
His revelation has generated discussion among fans, with some focusing on the difficult circumstances surrounding his early career while others have highlighted his decision to make restitution.
From Okokomaiko to Nigerian music stardom
Bella Shmurda’s career eventually moved far beyond the financial struggles he described from his early days.
The singer emerged as one of the prominent voices of Nigeria’s Afro-street music movement, building a reputation for songs that often draw from everyday experiences, personal struggles and life in Lagos.
His breakthrough came after his music attracted significant attention online and he began collaborating with established Nigerian artistes.
A major turning point came in 2019 when he collaborated with Olamide, a development that helped introduce him to a much wider national audience.
The collaboration contributed to his growing profile within Nigeria’s music industry and helped establish him as an artiste to watch.
A story of regret and redemption
Bella Shmurda’s account also highlights how dramatically circumstances can change over the course of a person’s career.
The N7,000 bicycle incident belongs to a period when the singer was still struggling to finance his musical ambitions.
Years later, he has built a successful career and used his platform to share stories about his journey.
His decision to speak openly about the incident also shows how some entertainers use their past experiences to explain the challenges they encountered before achieving success.
While his admission has attracted criticism and debate, his account includes an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and an effort to compensate the person affected.
Fans react to Bella Shmurda’s revelation
The revelation is likely to generate mixed reactions among fans and social media users.
Some may view the story as evidence of the extreme lengths he says he once went to in pursuit of his musical ambitions.
Others may argue that financial hardship cannot justify stealing another person’s property.
Bella Shmurda’s account, however, suggests that he understands the seriousness of what happened and later attempted to make amends.
His story ultimately provides another example of the difficult and sometimes complicated journeys that artists can experience before achieving mainstream recognition.
Today, Bella Shmurda is an established name in Nigerian music, a significant contrast to the period he described when finding money for a studio session was a major challenge.
Read more about Bella Shmurda’s music career through The Guardian Nigeria’s entertainment coverage.
