Nigerian music star Akinbiyi Abiola Ahmed, popularly known as Bella Shmurda, has opened up about his humble beginnings.

The singer revealed that he once earned just ₦20,000 monthly while working at a packaging factory owned by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote.

Bella Shmurda made this revelation in an interview on Echo Room about the struggles he faced before rising to fame.

According to the artist, he worked at the Dangote factory located in Ikorodu, Lagos, at a time when life was particularly challenging, and opportunities were limited for him.

He said that the job, though demanding, was his only source of income, with no additional support or side hustle to rely on.

The experience, he noted, exposed him to the realities of survival and perseverance in a tough economic environment.

READ ALSO:

“I was collecting ₦20,000 per month, and that was all I had. No side hustle, nothing else. It wasn’t easy, but it was an experience for me, and I feel like those are the things I remember now,” he said.

Bella Shmurda described the period as a defining phase of his life, one that tested his resilience and shaped his outlook on success.

Despite the difficulties, he expressed no regrets, emphasising that the experience played a significant role in his personal and professional growth.

He reflected on how those early struggles continue to serve as motivation in his music career today.

Since breaking into the Nigerian music scene, Bella Shmurda has achieved widespread recognition with a string of hit songs and collaborations, establishing himself as one of the prominent voices in Afrobeats.

The revelation has resonated with many fans, particularly young Nigerians, who see his story as a reminder that success often begins with perseverance through difficult circumstances.