Afrobeats singer Iyanya has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that his appointment as Senior Special Assistant on Tourism and Entertainment to the Cross River State governor came at a time when he was struggling professionally and financially.

Iyanya spoke during an interview on The Afropolitan podcast, hosted by Chika Emola and Eche Enzoga, reflecting on fame, industry betrayal, early international ambitions, and a downturn in his music career.

Iyanya recalled his attempts to break into the United States market in the early 2010s, describing a period when African artists were largely overlooked globally. He said he toured several US cities at a time when Afrobeats had little recognition outside the continent.

“Remember when we went to Atlanta and linked up with Akon,” he said. “He was trying to help us get a collaboration with Nicki Minaj, but we were charged a quarter of a million dollars for a feature. We tried to negotiate, but it didn’t work out.”

According to the singer, the experience underscored the limited opportunities available to African artists at the time. He said he performed in cities where he was the first African artist to appear on stage, adding that Afrobeats was largely unfamiliar to international audiences then.

“At that point, they didn’t even know what Afrobeats was,” Iyanya said, noting that the genre’s global success today reflects years of groundwork by early artists. He praised key players who helped push Afrobeats into the global mainstream.

The singer also reflected on his 2013 US tour, admitting that he was unprepared for the scale of attention that followed his early success. “I can say I was not prepared for it, but I enjoyed it,” he said. “You know you are going to be famous, but you don’t know how big it’s going to be.”

However, the conversation shifted to a more challenging phase of his career, which he said was marked by industry betrayal and a decline in commercial success. Iyanya revealed that former Cross River State governor Ben Ayade appointed him Senior Special Assistant on Tourism and Entertainment during this period.

“The appointment came at a time when I was in a very bad place,” he said. “I didn’t have a hit song then. I was releasing R&B music, and the appointment came when I needed that financial support.”

Beyond music and politics, the singer also spoke about personal growth and faith, suggesting that he is entering a more reflective phase of his career. He said he believes he will eventually return fully to the church, describing it as part of his purpose.

“I know at some point I will have to go back to church, because that’s what I was created for,” he said, adding that faith would not stop him from performing.

Iyanya described this phase of his career as a “vintage stage”, where his focus has shifted away from chasing mass popularity. He said he is now more selective about performances, with interest coming from wealthy individuals and private audiences rather than large public crowds.