Nigerian rap icon Olamide has admitted that he still gets nervous before every stage performance, revealing that a series of frightening incidents during past shows are behind his ongoing anxiety.
Speaking in a recent interview with YouTuber Korty EO, the YBNL boss said fans have repeatedly invaded the stage during his performances, grabbing personal items off his body without warning. “I get nervous every time I am going on the stage. I have had too many crazy experiences while performing. Someone from nowhere will just come and grab your chain or your hat, you don’t even know what to expect,” he said.
Olamide described the incidents as frightening, adding that they have changed his mindset heading into live shows and affected his confidence over time. He noted that the unpredictability of such moments is what makes them particularly difficult to shake.
The confession is a surprising one from an artist who has spent well over a decade as one of Nigeria’s most commanding live performers, having headlined some of the country’s biggest concerts and festivals.
Separately in the interview, Olamide also spoke about entering a phase of intentional self-prioritisation, saying he has spent years balancing the demands of his own career alongside building and supporting artists on his YBNL label, and that he is now focused on putting himself first.
