Controversial singer Eedris Abdulkareem asserts that he was the driving force behind the revolution that brought international exposure to Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and other Nigerian musicians.
He said that the reason Nigerian artists are now appreciated around the world is because of his 2004 protest against concert promoters’ mistreatment of the country’s artists, during which he got into a fight with American rapper 50Cent and his G-Unit bandmates in Nigeria.
While acknowledging that his rebellion had an impact on his career, Abdulkareem noted that “it was a beautiful sacrifice that gave birth to Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido” in an interview with The Honest Bunch Podcast.
He said, “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 allover 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.”
