What M.I Abaga said about funding in Music industry

Nigerian Veteran M.I Abaga has spoken on the topic of funding for artists in the Nigerian music industry.

In an interview, Abaga made claims of internet fraudsters funding Nigerian artists. He stated that the link between artists and internet fraudsters is one that is not talked about.

“There’s a lot of controversy when people talk about Yahoo Yahoo because a lot of artistes, that is the funding that they have. What I’m trying to say is that it’s an indictment on our country that we have such talented musicians and that the major funding for the industry comes from the West and this other industry,” he said.

While buttressing his point, Abaga explained that one of the ways these fraudsters invest their money is in music or real estate. He expressed his disappointment in other major investors not investing in musical artists.

“Let’s even say I’m a Yahoo boy, I’m not, but let’s say I was and I just made ₦100 million. Okay, I’m now a criminal who made ₦100 million but still don’t have to give it to an artiste. I can blow it however I want, or I can put it in real estate. What I’m trying to say is that, the fact that it goes to artistes is one of the major ways that artistes can get investments into them. Like there’s no place else, it happens to be other young people who just happen to have money. Society will criticise the method of illegal money. But what is relevant is that there are other young people who have money and are just trying to help because they’re seeing their talented friends, and that is a statement about Nigeria,” he said.