Wale Ozuaua says weak African economies make it difficult for Nigerian artistes to organise tours across the country and other parts of the continent, limiting their ability to reach wider audiences and generate revenue.
Speaking during a panel session at NECLive 2026, Ozuaua said the economic conditions across African countries make extensive touring financially challenging for artistes, particularly those without established international audiences.
He noted that artistes who currently have the financial capacity to sustain extensive touring schedules are largely those who have spent years building audiences outside Africa and earning money in foreign currencies.
According to him, dollar-denominated earnings give such performers an advantage because they can finance tours without relying entirely on the limited purchasing power of audiences within African markets.
“The economy is not that developed to allow artistes to go on tour across Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
Ozuaua’s remarks highlight the financial difficulties facing artistes who want to expand their reach beyond individual markets but lack the resources to organise performances across multiple African countries.
Touring requires significant financial commitments, including transportation, accommodation, logistics and promotional activities. These expenses can become difficult to recover in markets where economic conditions limit audience spending and the commercial returns from live performances.
He added that the situation was unlikely to change significantly until African economies achieve greater stability and sustained economic growth.
His comments point to the broader relationship between economic development and the growth of Africa’s entertainment industry, particularly the ability of homegrown artistes to build sustainable touring businesses across the continent.
Leave a Reply