Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has opened up about a difficult period in his life when he went to unusual lengths to raise money for his budding music career.
Speaking during an interview on Echo Room, the singer revealed that while living in Okoko, Lagos, he once stole a bicycle belonging to his neighbour’s son and sold it to raise money for studio sessions.
According to Bella Shmurda, the incident happened at a time when he was struggling financially and needed money to continue recording music. He said he took the bicycle at night, hid it, and later sold it in Alaba for ₦7,000.
The singer explained that the money was used to pay for studio sessions as he worked to establish himself in the music industry.
Bella Shmurda, however, said he eventually found the boy whose bicycle he had taken and decided to make amends by buying him a new bicycle.
Recalling the incident, the singer joked that his mother would probably be angry if she heard him speak about it publicly.
He said:
“If my mom hears this, she’ll be angry. When we lived in Okoko, I once stole my neighbor’s son’s bicycle and hid it at night. I sold it in Alaba for ₦7,000 to pay for studio sessions. I’ve seen him since and bought him a new bicycle.”
The revelation offers a glimpse into the struggles Bella Shmurda faced before gaining recognition in the Nigerian music industry, while his decision to replace the bicycle highlights his attempt to make amends for his past actions.
