Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie told listeners on the "When We Sit" podcast that Nigerian artists enjoy significant financial support from local billionaires and business executives, a luxury he says Ghanaian artists lack.
He explained that many Ghanaian musicians produce music independently, without the backing of fellow Ghanaians, whereas Nigerian businessmen frequently invest in talent, giving their artists a competitive edge across Africa.
"What Ghanaian artists do is organic. I give a business plan; even with that, it is hard to get some people to come in. But in Nigeria, I think they take a lot of risks; most rich people take a lot of risks to put their people on," Sarkodie said. He added that the scale of investment required for large events, such as an O2 Arena show, is daunting but still achievable.
During the episode, Sarkodie recalled meeting Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu and being shocked by the amount Elumelu disclosed he was investing in a Nigerian artist he believes is the future of Afrobeats.
He urged Ghanaian business executives and wealthy individuals to emulate Nigerian leaders by financially supporting local artists, arguing that such investment would strengthen Ghana’s music industry and give its talent a broader platform.
