Funding for many Nigerian artistes in the music industry comes from internet fraud—MI Abaga

Prominent Nigerian rapper and singer Jude Abaga, widely known as MI Abaga, claimed that much of the funding pushing Nigerian artistes comes from the proceeds of internet fraud, locally known as ‘Yahoo.’

The rapper said on the “So Nigerian Podcast” on Tuesday that this is a disturbing fact and an indication that there is a problem with the way Nigeria supports the creative sector.

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M.I. said, “There are a lot of controversies when people talk about Yahoo Yahoo because for a lot of artists, that is the funding they have.

When people try to talk about it, for me, I do not want to be misquoted or say the wrong thing. What I am trying to say is that it is an indictment on our country that we have such talented musicians and the major funding for the industry comes from the West and from this other industry.”

The rapper said the situation implies that all is not right with the country blessed with wealthy individuals and gifted young people.

The rapper added that “It should not be so in a country where we have so many rich people and so many talented young people. Why do we have this situation? Who is to blame? Is it the young people just trying to survive? It is very hard to say this.”

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M.I. noted that dependence on funds from questionable sources for investment in artistes shows the deep gaps in the nation’s creative industry.

He said, “So what I am trying to say is that the fact that this money goes to artists and that is one of the major ways artists get investment is telling. There is no other place it comes from. It has to be other young people who just so happen to have money.”