Nigerian rapper and music mogul Vector recently took to Instagram to shed light on the exploitation faced by artists in the country.

He outlined the financial burden that comes with being a recording artist in Nigeria. From paying for studio time, mixing and mastering tracks, to producing and marketing music videos, musicians invest heavily in their craft. Yet, when it comes to receiving royalties, many are left uncertain about whether they’ll ever be properly compensated.

“I think it’s time for artists to start asking those questions and stand up for what is theirs,” Vector said. “Because we created it. We made the art. We are being exploited, and the art is being compensated, not us.”

He pointed to ongoing disputes within the music industry, citing legal cases involving organizations and individuals such as Coson, Efe Omorogbe (former manager of 2face), and Baba Dee (Sound Sultan’s brother). Although he refrained from taking sides, Vector emphasized the broader concern: artists frequently face challenges in accessing their royalties and sometimes have to look beyond Nigeria to receive fair payment.

Vector also discussed his efforts to engage with government leaders to tackle these issues. He mentioned past discussions with the Lagos State Governor, stressing the importance of safeguarding intellectual property rights. “Your Excellency, you asked what you can do to support the music. We like everything the government is doing, but one very important thing is our intellectual property. Something has to protect that.”

He elaborated on why this protection is vital: without it, artists are unable to generate meaningful income from their creations. “You can do all the grants in the world, but if people are exploiting our intellectual property, we won’t be able to make money. Protect how we create our art so we can earn, pay taxes, and grow sustainably.”