‘IT’S EASIER TO TOUR EUROPE THAN AFRICA’ – MR EAZI
Afrobeats star recounts border frustrations in Kenya, calls for freer movement for African creatives
Nigerian Afrobeats singer and entrepreneur Mr Eazi has criticised Africa’s cross-border travel systems, arguing that it is often easier for artistes to tour Europe and the United States than to move freely within the continent.
Speaking at the ongoing African Prosperity Dialogues 2026, the singer recounted personal experiences that underscored the challenges African creatives face when travelling for work within Africa.
Mr Eazi revealed that despite being fully contracted and paid to perform at a concert in Kenya, he was once denied entry by immigration officials, even as members of his band were allowed into the country.
“I’ve spent six years as a singer touring the world, and honestly, it was easier to tour America and Europe than to tour Africa,” he said. “At the time, I had one of the biggest songs on the continent, yet touring Africa was harder.”
He recalled two separate incidents at the Kenyan border where he was stopped while his band, made up of people of different nationalities, was permitted to proceed.
“Even though I was the lead artiste and the person who had been paid the most, I had to wait at the border, while my band was allowed to enter,” he added.
The musician said such experiences highlight the broader problem of limited mobility within Africa, particularly for young people, creatives, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to Mr Eazi, these barriers undermine Africa’s integration agenda and disproportionately affect those trying to build cross-border businesses and creative careers.
“This friction is felt the most by the youth artistes, creators, influencers, SMEs, women, and young Africans who are trying not only to better their lives but also to contribute to shared prosperity on the continent,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Mr Eazi noted that young Africans are increasingly bypassing physical borders through digital collaboration.
“Young people under 35 don’t really care about borders anymore,” he said. “We collaborate through the internet, through cross-border partnerships and creativity. The world has become a global village.”
His comments come amid renewed calls by policymakers and business leaders for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and freer movement of people to support trade, culture and innovation across the continent.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
