Nigerian music industry veteran Eedris Abdulkareem believes he was the catalyst for the change that made Nigerian performers like Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and others famous across the globe.
Abdulkareem claims that his 2004 uprising against concert promoters abuse of Nigerian artists, during which he got into a brawl with American rapper 50Cent and his G-Unit crew in Nigeria is the reason why Nigerian musicians are now respected globally.
The rapper acknowledged that his rebellion impeded his career but also said, “It was a beautiful sacrifice that gave birth to Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido.”
In his words;
“You heard someone like Burna Boy said nobody helped him in Nigeria. Would you have been a star without some people starting the revolution? That is a stupid talk. You wouldn’t have been where you are if we didn’t make this industry what it is; if we didn’t fight for it. Unfortunately, most of them don’t appreciate it. And I don’t give a dime.
“It [fighting for Nigerian music industry] affected my career but it was a beautiful sacrifice that gave birth to Davido, Boy, Wizkid, and everybody today. For me, what’s more important is that I have done what God asked me to do and our music is now all over the world. I have opened the road for them. It’s their responsibility to appreciate the fight. And if them don’t, I don’t give a dime.”
