Billionaires fund Nigerian artists – Sarkodie

Sarkodie, a prominent Ghanaian rapper, revealed in a recent podcast interview that Nigerian artists receive significant financial backing from wealthy individuals and executives, whereas their Ghanaian counterparts often struggle to secure such support. During the episode of the When We Sit podcast, Sarkodie asserted that Ghanaian musicians frequently create music independently, without any financial assistance from fellow Ghanaians.

He attributed this disparity to the prevalent willingness of Nigerian businessmen to invest in talent, providing Nigerian artists with a financial edge in the African market.

Sarkodie argued that while Ghanaian artists operate organically, local businesspeople find it challenging to invest in them, given the inherent risks involved. However, he observed that Nigerian entrepreneurs are more inclined to take risks to elevate their peers. He provided an example of the immense investment required to stage a concert at the O2 Arena, emphasizing that even with such a grand undertaking, the challenge remains formidable.

During the interview, Sarkodie recalled his meeting with Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu, who reportedly disclosed the substantial sum he was investing in a Nigerian artist, whom he considered to be the future of Afrobeats. In response to the stark contrast in financial support for artists in both nations, Sarkodie called upon Ghanaian business executives and wealthy individuals to follow the example set by their Nigerian counterparts and provide their artists with the necessary financial backing.