Nigerian singer, Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, professionally known as Bella Shmurda, has revealed that he stole a bicycle during the early stages of his musical career to cover studio recording fees.
Speaking during an interview on Echo Room TV, the Afro-street artist explained that the incident took place while he was residing in the Okokomaiko area of Lagos. Driven by the need to raise capital for studio sessions, he took and sold the bicycle at Alaba International Market.
“When we lived in Okoko, I once stole a boy’s bicycle and sold it at Alaba for N7,000 to pay for studio sessions,” he revealed.
Reflecting on the event, the singer noted that the memory remains a painful point of personal reflection.
He added that after achieving financial stability, he sought out the owner and made restitution by purchasing a replacement bicycle for him.The artist achieved mainstream prominence in 2019 following a breakthrough collaboration with rapper Olamide, a career milestone that catapulted him to national visibility within the Nigerian music industry.