Afrobeats musician and entrepreneur, Oluwatosin Ajibade, popularly known as Mr Eazi, has said it was easier for him to tour Europe and the United States than Africa in the early years of his music career, citing border restrictions and regulatory hurdles across the continent.
Mr Eazi made the remarks on Friday at the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogue, aired by Joy News, held under the theme “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate, Trade.”
Reflecting on his decade-long journey in music and business, the ‘Leg Over’ crooner said cross-border movement within Africa posed significant challenges to artists and entrepreneurs.
He said that in the first six years of his rise, particularly during the first two years of his breakthrough, touring America and Europe was easier than touring Africa, despite having some of the biggest songs on the continent.
Mr Eazi added that touring within Africa became even more difficult after he recorded a number-one song across the continent.
Recounting an incident at the Kenyan border, he said he was once denied entry despite being paid to perform at an event.
He said his band members, who were of different nationalities, were allowed into the country, while he, the lead artist, was made to wait at the border.
According to him, the experience highlighted broader challenges affecting cross-border movement within Africa.
Mr Eazi said such barriers hinder unity, economic strength and development across the continent.
He stressed that Africa must move beyond policy declarations to effective implementation in order to fully benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area.
According to him, existing border systems create friction in movement, payments, regulation and the ability of small and medium-scale enterprises to scale across the continent.
Drawing from his entrepreneurial experience, Mr Eazi said he has invested in companies operating in 19 African countries, including a firm that processes about four million transactions daily.
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He noted that cross-border barriers affect young people the most, adding that Africans under the age of 35 collaborate across borders through digital platforms in business and creativity.
While acknowledging the existence of frameworks such as the AfCFTA, he said implementation remains the key challenge.
Mr Eazi also said easing cross-border movement would not weaken national sovereignty but would enable lawful trade, mobility and development.
He said improved connectivity across Africa would support business growth and help small and medium-scale enterprises expand beyond national borders.
He concluded by urging African leaders to remove barriers holding the continent back, saying a more connected Africa would be stronger and more competitive globally.