Bella Shmurda Reveals He Once Sold Neighbour’s Bicycle to Fund Studio Session

Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has recalled one of the difficult decisions he made while struggling to fund his music career before gaining fame.

The singer, whose real name is Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, said he once took a neighbour’s son’s bicycle and sold it for N7,000 to raise money for a studio recording.

Bella made the revelation during an interview with Echo Room TV while reflecting on his early years in Okoko, Lagos, and the financial difficulties he faced while pursuing music.

According to the singer, he took the bicycle at night, hid it and later sold it at Alaba Market. He said the money was used to pay for studio sessions at a time when finding funds to record music was a major challenge.

The singer said the incident remained a painful memory even after his music career began to flourish. However, he revealed that he later found the boy and bought him a new bicycle as an attempt to make amends.

Bella’s story offers a glimpse into the less glamorous side of his rise from Okoko to becoming one of Nigeria’s notable street-pop artistes. His breakthrough came in 2019 after his song Vision 2020 caught the attention of rapper Olamide, who featured on its remix.

The collaboration helped push Bella into the national spotlight, followed by songs such as Cash App and the release of his debut EP, High Tension. His subsequent success transformed the circumstances that had once made paying for studio time a major struggle.

The bicycle story, however, remains an uncomfortable part of the singer’s account of those early years. While the decision came at a time when he was determined to keep pursuing music despite financial difficulties, Bella’s decision to replace the bicycle suggests that he still carries regret over what happened.

The singer has previously spoken about his upbringing in Okoko and his desire to use his success to make a positive difference in the community where he grew up. His latest revelation adds another perspective to that journey, highlighting the difficult choices he says he made before achieving fame.