Afrobeats artist, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David professionally known as Spyro, has disclosed that he contributes over 15 million Naira (142,958.97 US Dollars) annually on charity to street beggars and fans in need.
This hitmaker of the “Who’s Your Guy” song complained about the growing pressure from people asking for cash from him both directly and on his social media accounts. “It is really hard being a celebrity in Lagos,” he posted on his Instagram account. I said to some men I get nothing and will be meets him the next day. He rained insults on me.”
However, Spyro, as an example, shared an emphasis story of how a fellow human being used harsh words on him just because he could not fund him instantly. This case illustrates a typical situation often characteristic of celebrities, namely the difficulty of enforcing private limits and dealing with fans collectively.
Spyro proceeded and said, “ You know on a daily basis when I go out of my house, I spend a minimum of N100,000 on charities, gifts you could say”.
He further detailed the mathematical progression: Let me give you some arithmetic now: I go out three times a week, that costs N300, 000 per week which is N1, 200, 000 per month, and is approximately N15, 000, 000 per annum. Kilode.”
The revelation by the singer has started different debates regarding the specific challenges that celebrities from Africa, particularly those in Nigeria’s entertainment capital – Lagos. Giving and supporting others is part of the Nigerian culture hence celebrities embraced it but in equal measure it places unsustainable pressure on such personalities.
This is a typical social problem in which celebrities end up stuggling between their wish to be helpful to their fellow human beings and the importance of being financially secure.
In such a situation, the regular requests for help together with the possible unsatisfied reactions when one cannot help, form a rather challenging situation familiar to many people in the public.
Spyro’s openness about his expenditure also helps to amuse the secrets that accompany celebration in Nigeria among which freighting packages of fame is a default expectation of entertainers to finance fans and members of their community.
