DJ Obi has urged Nigerian artistes to maintain stronger connections with their local audiences as their careers expand, saying international success should not make it difficult for fans at home to enjoy their performances.
Speaking during a panel session at NECLive 2026, the disc jockey and entrepreneur acknowledged that artistes naturally outgrow their original markets as they gain international recognition. However, he warned that this growth could create a disconnect between performers and the audiences who supported them from the beginning.
Obi cited Canadian rapper Drake as an example of how international success can affect an artiste’s relationship with their home market.
He noted that booking the Grammy-winning musician for performances in Canada had become difficult despite the country being his home market.
According to Obi, a similar situation is developing in Nigeria, where fans increasingly have to wait for special occasions to see some of the country’s biggest music stars perform.
He suggested that the growing distance between artistes and local audiences raises questions about how successful performers can maintain relationships with the markets that helped establish their careers.
Obi pointed to Davido’s planned December activities as an example of an opportunity for Nigerian audiences to reconnect with their favourite artistes.
He argued that local performances should not be viewed solely as commercial engagements but also as opportunities for established musicians to appreciate the support they received while building their careers.
For Obi, the growth of Nigerian artistes into international markets should not come at the expense of their relationship with fans back home.
He stressed the importance of giving local audiences opportunities to enjoy live performances from the musicians whose success they helped make possible.
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