Veteran Nigerian gospel singer Busola Oke, widely known as Eleyele, has opened up about her ongoing financial struggles in an emotional conversation with actress Biola Bayo, revealing that hunger and desperation drove her to record the viral video that sparked public concern.
Fighting back tears, the “Eleyele” crooner disclosed that she recorded the video because she had reached a breaking point where she could no longer provide basic meals for herself.
“I did that video because I was hungry. I didn’t have food to eat. I’ve been going through a lot. I never thought a time would come when I wouldn’t be able to provide for myself,” she said.
The singer clarified that despite her emotional state, she never threatened to take her own life. “I never said I was going to kill myself. I am a good Christian, and I know the implications of that,” she added.
According to her, the shows she attends barely cover transportation costs, leaving her with little to survive on. “The shows that I attend can only fend for my transport. I can’t even feed from it. I don’t even know my life could be like this,” she confessed.
She explained that although she still performs at events, the payments she receives are no longer reasonable. Some people offered to help her financially, but under conditions she described as inappropriate and unacceptable.
The singer disclosed that when her career was thriving, she had many people around her, but now she feels alone. “When things were going well, I had many people around me. Now, I feel abandoned,” she said.
Her breakdown comes days after a live video where she lamented that good music no longer sells and expressed frustration about how the industry has changed. The clip went viral, sparking conversations about how veteran artists struggle to remain financially stable in today’s evolving music landscape.
Busola admitted she is exhausted and overwhelmed, saying she never imagined facing such hardship after years in the industry.
