Nigerian Afrobeats star Bella Shmurda has voiced concern over the growing trend of reckless spending among Nigerian artistes, warning that many are endangering their careers by prioritizing appearances over sustainability.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, the ‘Cash App’ crooner reflected on the industry’s obsession with materialism and how it pushes young talents into financial dependence on record labels.
“A lot of artistes can’t fund their own projects anymore. They blow their money on flashy cars, jewellery, and unnecessary things, then run to labels for advances and end up in debt,” he said.
Bella Shmurda admitted he once made similar mistakes early in his career but eventually learned to make smarter financial decisions. He stressed that effective branding doesn’t have to rely on materialism, and that simplicity can be just as impactful.
“Good clothes, clean looks, nice skin, brushing your teeth, and smelling nice — that’s enough. You don’t need chains or designer items to look good. You can be clean and presentable without spending millions,” he advised.
The singer also highlighted how the pursuit of an extravagant image often traps artistes in long-term contracts, with labels holding their music catalogues for years.
“It’s these flashy things that push them into deals they later regret. We need to educate ourselves about money, branding, and long-term vision.”
Bella Shmurda’s candid insights add to the ongoing conversation about financial literacy and artistic independence in Nigeria’s booming music industry.
