My life as music artist — Shelly Usman

Shelly Usman had lived all her life in Zimbabwe where she was born to a Nigerian father and a German mother. Her name would probably have been ringing bells like some popular Nigerian female artists but this is not to be, either by fate or just the challenges that come with making it in the saturated Nigerian music space.

She started doing music in Zimbabwe in 2017. When she came to Nigeria, she had the dream of pushing that passion to the next level but what she met on ground was rather to her disenchantment and she reveals her pain in this interview.

“Apart from your talent, to make it in the Nigerian music industry requires a lot. To make it requires a lot of money including studio time, promotion and the likes. When I came in 2018 I had the passion for music , but I had to stop because at that time I did not understand the industry and it also needed a lot of money to venture into as I was doing it alone,” she said.

According to her, it didn’t deter her from making it in her fatherland which led her to float several businesses at the age of 19.

“Nigerian music is the best music worldwide, no other music can compare to that. Zimbabweans love Nigerian music. Zimbabwe has not many good artists, no offense … our artists need to work harder though,” she offered.

For Shelly Usman, not being able to pursue a music career didn’t put paid to her dream of making a success of her life. When music didn’t work the Nigerian-German turned her attention to business.

She narrated : “I started business when I came to Nigeria in 2018. I opened a saloon and boutique in Fola Osibo. Lekki

“After some time, I moved to another location and started a bigger saloon and lounge in Lekki, Emma Abimbola Cole Street called Chillax Lounge. In 2019 I started another business having my own beauty line called Sheuman Beauty

“I also had a beverage company which I started called Chillax Beverages Company where I distributed gourmets and cocktail syrups to restaurants and lounges in Lagos.”

Shelly Usman was born March 24, 1999 in Zimbabwe. She hails from Mbaitolu Ogwa in Imo State. She was raised in Zimbabwe until age 19 when her curiosity about her roots took hold of her. She came to Nigeria and there another chapter opened in her life. The entrepreneurial spirit in her came to the fore.