Bella Shmurda Urges Nigerian Artists to Create Meaningful Music with Lasting Impact
Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has called on fellow artists to focus on producing music with purpose and to lead lives that inspire others positively. He expressed concern that the Nigerian music scene has adopted many negative influences from Western culture, which is now affecting the youth in harmful ways.
During a recent appearance on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Bella Shmurda challenged his peers to prioritize building meaningful legacies instead of chasing flashy lifestyles filled with luxury cars and expensive jewelry.
“Many in the industry have lost their way. Our music scene has turned into a ‘shine shine’ culture where everyone is imitating American hip-hop, flaunting flashy jewelry and exotic cars. These images are shoved into our faces so much that young people are losing sight of their true purpose,” he explained.
“Artists need a reason beyond material things to make music. Nowadays, it seems like every rollout plan is about showing off cars and bling. There’s no deeper message. This doesn’t give the younger generation a meaningful reason to pursue music. What impact are we really making? In the end, it’s all about legacy—what are we leaving behind for those who come after us?”
Bella Shmurda revealed that he even stopped wearing jewelry at one point because it didn’t align with his mission. “I released ‘Vision 2020,’ a song with real purpose, and that’s the vision I want to uphold,” he added.
His words serve as a reminder for artists to reflect on their influence and strive to create art that resonates beyond the surface.