Nigerian singer Mr Eazi confirms Kenyan artists worst nightmare: Kenyans love foreign music more

Nigerian singer Mr Eazi has been in Kenya a lot of times and apparently, it’s because Kenya, and East Africa in general, has a lot to offer. In currency form that is.

The singer confessed that East Africa, particularly Kenya, are among the highest paying concert spots for African artists. The singer openly confessed how easy it was to walk into Kenya and get paid KSh 10 million for a single show, contrary to how it is back in his home country Nigeria.

Easy money

Speaking in an interview with OKayAfrica, the singer shared that East Africa is very receptive.

”East Africa is arguably the most receptive spot for music. In East Africa, they listen to hip-hop, they listen to their local music, they also listen to music from the West of Africa, they listen to pop. So in recent times, asides from when I do festivals or branded shows in the UK or wherever,” Eazi said.

”Nobody is going to pay you $100,000 in Nigeria to do a show, or even $60,000 to come and jump on stage for a set. But you can easily get that money by walking into Kenya or walking into Gambia. So those places should be the ones I focus on. Also, when we dropped Keys to the City, which was not a single and we saw the views on YouTube, the bulk was from East Africa,” he added. 

He went on to say that he would definitely perform in Kenya than his country Nigeria given the sweet deals Kenyans offer. The comments comes after Kenyan artists protests that DJs and presenters have given international artists priority over them.

”It is the only place that I can perform without a curated set. If I perform in Nigeria or UK it’s a curated set. But if I perform in East Africa, I can perform every song from Major Lazer to Lotto Boyz to Lady Leshurr, and all the songs on Accra to Lagos. All, I can perform all the songs before that project,” he said. 

Nigerian singer Mr. Eazi explains why he used Lamba lolo phrase in his new song

The phrase Lamba Lolo has now become a household name and almost every one in Kenya, and the better part of East Africa is familiar with it thanks to four kids who call themselves Ethnic.

We have seen South African singer Nasty C use it on social media and now Nigerian singer Mr Eazi has come out to share how it made it in his new song.

Speaking to Nation, the singer said Kenyans encouraged him to use the popular phrase.

 “In Kenya people love my song “Keys to the City” because of the line that goes “Lamba lolo, lolo lamba”. I will not go into what it means in sheng but in the streets of Nigeria “lamba” mainly means “sweet stories”. One can say, “My friend is giving me lamba”; although its meaning can also change depending on the context of what you’re talking about.”

Support of upcoming artists

Mr Eazi, who is also known to support upcoming artists in Africa, shared of his experience with upcoming guys in Kenya.

“The emerging Kenyan artiste I’m now working with is Rosa (Rosalie Akinyi). She was one of those who responded to the Tweet I had put out. When I came for the Nairobi concert in April, she came with her producer to my hotel and we set up the studio. We worked together on a song, including the song-writing, and my producers worked with her too. I feel that her energy is a factor that could make her blow up,” he said.