Nigerian music star Bella Shmurda has opened up about one of the most painful moments from his early days as an aspiring musician, recalling how financial difficulties once pushed him to steal and sell a bicycle to raise money for a recording session.
The singer, whose real name is Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, shared the experience during an interview on Echo Room TV while reflecting on the struggles and sacrifices that marked the beginning of his music career.
According to Bella Shmurda, the incident occurred when he was living in Okoko. With limited financial resources but determined to continue pursuing music, he resorted to stealing a bicycle belonging to a boy in the area and later sold it at Alaba for N7,000.
“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 revealed.
The singer described the incident as a painful memory, suggesting that it remains one of the experiences from his past that he has not forgotten.
However, Bella Shmurda said he eventually sought to make amends for his actions. He revealed that he bought a new bicycle for the owner, an act he undertook as a way of addressing the wrong he had committed during his financially difficult period.
The revelation offers a glimpse into the circumstances surrounding the singer's early pursuit of music, when paying for studio time was a challenge and opportunities in the industry were still uncertain.
Bella Shmurda later gained significant attention in 2019 after Nigerian music heavyweight Olamide noticed his talent. Their collaboration proved pivotal to his career, helping propel him into the mainstream and establishing him as one of the emerging voices in Nigeria's music scene.
His rise subsequently transformed his career, taking him from the struggles of funding early recording sessions to becoming a recognised name in the Nigerian music industry.
The singer's account also highlights the difficult choices and personal sacrifices that can accompany the pursuit of a career in entertainment, particularly for young artistes attempting to break into a highly competitive industry.