A resurfaced interview clip of Mr Eazi discussing his decision to turn down Afro Nation 2019 has sparked fresh conversations online about how African artists value themselves within the global festival business.

In the clip, originally from an episode of the *90s Baby Show* recorded around two years ago, Mr Eazi explained that he rejected the festival’s offer because he wanted more than a standard performance payment. Instead, he requested equity in the Afro Nation brand as well as access to audience analytics.

According to him, African performers were the main attraction of the festival, yet many were settling for one-time fees instead of pursuing long-term ownership opportunities.

“This is a festival that’s mostly African,” he said, noting that fans attended primarily to watch African acts. Because of that, he believed artists deserved a deeper stake in the business behind the event.

Beyond ownership, Mr Eazi also sought audience data from the festival. He explained that having access to fan analytics would help him market and organize his own concerts independently in the future.

He recalled that organizers rejected the proposal, saying no other artist had requested such terms. In response, he felt the only alternative would have been an exceptionally large payout, especially since he believed his popularity at the time justified stronger negotiating power.

The singer pointed to his career momentum in 2019, which included performing at Coachella and appearing at major concerts such as a Wizkid show at London’s O2 Arena.

Online reactions to the resurfaced comments have been divided. Some people argue that asking for equity was overly ambitious given his market position at the time, while others believe his stance highlighted an important conversation about ownership and fair value for African artists in the Afrobeats industry. Afro Nation has not publicly commented on the clip.

The discussion also reflects a broader industry trend where some entertainers negotiate equity deals instead of traditional fees. One notable example often cited is Beyoncé, who reportedly accepted equity in Uber Technologies during a 2015 private performance arrangement rather than taking a direct cash payment.

Such agreements can become highly profitable if the business succeeds, though they also come with financial risk if the venture underperforms. The renewed debate around Mr Eazi’s comments centers on whether his influence in 2019 was strong enough to justify those demands.