Nigeria: ‘He paid for the venue and sound’
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Ghanaian musician Fancy Gadam has revealed how a chance encounter and a single phone call led to businessman Ibrahim Mahama stepping in to fund a major concert for him in Accra.
Speaking in an interview with 3Music on August 28, 2026, the Tamale-based artiste said Mahama covered both the cost of hiring the National Theatre and the sound equipment for the show — support that helped make the event a sold-out success
Fancy Gadam said the relationship began in an unusual way. He was in a car when he spotted Ibrahim Mahama and former President John Mahama in another vehicle surrounded by a large crowd.
They had to park because the crowd was too much,” Fancy Gadam recalled.
He thought little of it at the time. But when he got home, his brother told him something that sounded hard to believe.
“My brother came to me and said Ibrahim Mahama was on the line and he wanted to talk to me. I thought he was joking with me, so I asked him to leave my sight. To my surprise, it was really him,” he said.
On the call, Mahama introduced himself and commended the musician for his work When I answered, he said ‘Mr President’, and I also said Boss. He then told me that I was doing well. Because of that, I built a good relationship with him,” Fancy Gadam said.
He said Mahama had previously told him to reach out whenever he was in the capital. So he did When I booked the venue, I came to Accra. He initially told me that anytime I come to Accra, I should look for him, so I went to see him,” the musician said.
During their meeting, Mahama asked what brought him to Accra. Fancy Gadam explained he was there for a concert and mentioned the costs involved.
He asked me what I was doing in Accra, and I told him we were there to do a concert at the National Theatre. He asked how much the venue was; he wanted to help,” Fancy Gadam recounted.
The support was immediate. According to Fancy Gadam, Mahama paid for the National Theatre venue and also covered the sound equipment for the event
For an artiste based in Tamale, mounting a major show in Accra comes with significant financial pressure. Venue rental, sound, logistics, and promotion in the capital can run into hundreds of thousands of cedis.
By stepping in, Mahama removed two of the biggest cost barriers for Fancy Gadam. The result, the singer said, was a concert that sold out and gave him a bigger platform in Accra.
The story also highlights a side of Ibrahim Mahama that isn’t always in the headlines. Known primarily as a businessman and philanthropist, Mahama has over the years been linked to supporting various creative and community projects. In this case, his involvement came not through a formal sponsorship deal, but through a personal relationship that started with admiration for the music
Fancy Gadam, whose real name is Fadil Abdul Rahman, is one of the biggest music stars to come out of northern Ghana. He rose to national prominence with hits like _Total Cheat_ and _Nawuni_, blending Dagbani lyrics with afrobeats and hiplife.
He has won multiple awards, including Artiste of the Year at the 2019 Ghana Music Awards. While his base remains in Tamale, he has consistently pushed to bring northern Ghanaian music to audiences in Accra and beyond.
That push often requires resources that are not easily available to artistes outside the capital’s industry networks. His account of Mahama’s support shows how personal connections can sometimes bridge that gap.
What stands out in Fancy Gadam’s telling is how casual the start was. No formal proposal, no manager in the middle. Just a phone call after a roadside sighting.
Because of that, I built a good relationship with him,” he said of Mahama’s early encouragement.
That relationship, he suggests, was based on mutual respect rather than expectation. Mahama liked the music. He told the artiste to keep in touch. When the artiste needed help in Accra, he remembered that offer.
It’s a model of support that many Ghanaian creatives talk about but few experience directly: someone with means who is willing to back talent without demanding control over the art.
Fancy Gadam did not say whether there are plans for another collaboration with Mahama, but he described the businessman’s intervention as “significant” to the Accra show.
The concert itself has since become one of the talking points in his career — not just because it sold out, but because of the story behind it.
In an industry where funding is often the hardest part, the musician’s experience offers a rare example of direct backing from a high-profile figure.
For fans in Tamale, it was proof that their star could fill the National Theatre. For fans in Accra, it was a chance to see one of the north’s biggest exports live. And for Fancy Gadam, it was a reminder of how one unexpected phone call can change the trajectory of a show — and a career.
