Nigerian singer and entrepreneur Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, popularly known as Mr Eazi, has lamented the difficulties African artistes and entrepreneurs face when crossing borders, describing it as a major obstacle to continental unity and economic growth.

Speaking on the challenges of touring and doing business across Africa, at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues on Friday, February 6, 2026, Mr Eazi said that despite his international success, navigating intra-African borders has often been more difficult than touring Europe or the Americas.

In the last 10 years, I have spent six of those years as a singer touring the world. In those six years, it was easier to tour the Americas and Europe as a young artiste than to tour Africa. Once I had the biggest song on the continent, it was harder for me to tour other African countries, he said.

He recounted a personal experience in Kenya, where he was held up at the border despite being the lead performer and having been fully paid for his show.

I remember going to Kenya to perform with my band. Even though I have been paid the largest portion of the money and I am the lead performer, my band, made up of other nationalities, was able to cross the border while I was held up by immigration.

I had to insist that I be allowed onto the next flight. But that speaks to the realities of the friction that is being put in place, which is stopping us from uniting and being stronger and developing, he said.

Mr Eazi added that over the last four years, he has focused on entrepreneurship to address these “frictional” barriers that hinder movement across Africa.

This friction is felt strongly by the youth, artists, creators, women, and SMEs, who not only want to better their lives but also contribute to a better Africa, he noted.

Source: Citinewsroom