Davido, born David Adedeji Adeleke OON is a Nigerian musician recognized for his roles as a singer, songwriter, and record producer.
He holds significance in the Afrobeats scene of the 21st century, being instrumental, along with Burna Boy and Wizkid, in the genre’s global popularity.
Early life and Education
Born on November 21, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, David Adedeji Adeleke hails from a family with Nigerian roots. His father, Adedeji Adeleke, is a renowned Nigerian business tycoon, while his late mother, Vero Adeleke, was a university lecturer. As the youngest of five siblings and the third son of his father, Davido spent part of his youth in Lagos, attending the British International School. At 16, he ventured back to the U.S. to pursue a degree in business administration at Oakwood University, Alabama, where his passion for music blossomed. Alongside his cousins B-Red and Sina Rambo, he formed the music group KB International. However, his dedication to music led him to leave Oakwood and relocate to London to hone his vocal skills. Despite a brief pause to fulfill his father’s wishes by attending Babcock University, Davido ultimately graduated with a degree in music in July 2015, thanks to his father’s initiative in establishing a music department at the university.
Career
In 2011, Davido embarked on crafting his debut studio album, “Omo Baba Olowo,” blending Afrobeats with hip hop elements. Collaborating with producers like Jay Sleek, Maleek Berry, and others, Davido crafted the album, featuring guest appearances from artists like Naeto C, Sina Rambo, and 2 Face Idibia. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics for its lyrical content and songwriting, the album secured the Best R&B/Pop Album award at The Headies 2013 and earned a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
The album’s lead single, “Back When,” featuring Naeto C, dropped on May 7, 2011, garnering significant airplay and accompanied by a music video directed by Clarence Peters. Following this, “Dami Duro,” produced by Davido and Shizzi, was released on October 30, 2011, with its music video debuting amidst the Occupy Nigeria protests on January 8, 2012. “Ekuro,” the third single, hit the airwaves on January 25, 2012, with a music video shot in Miami. The album’s fourth single, “Overseas,” released on May 6, 2012, was preceded by an unfinished leak. Finally, “All of You,” produced by GospelOnDeBeatz, dropped on September 28, 2012, marking the album’s fifth single release.
On February 25, 2013, Davido dropped “Gobe,” a track produced by Shizzi, which gained acclaim, ranking second on Premium Times’ Top 10 songs of 2013 list. Notably, Charles Mgbolu of Vanguard newspaper praised its infectious fun vibe. The accompanying music video, shot in South Africa by Godfather Productions, added visual depth to the song’s narrative.
Following this success, “One of a Kind” was slated for release on May 13, 2013, with Shizzl handling production duties. Tebza of Godfather Productions directed its vibrant music video in South Africa, celebrating Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
“Skelewu,” unleashed on August 13, 2013, became another hit, ranking fifth on Premium Times’ 2013 chart. Davido even initiated a “Skelewu” dance competition alongside its release, further fueling its popularity. Despite some controversy over its music videos, Davido persevered, releasing an official version directed by Moe Musa in London.
On February 1, 2014, “Aye” hit the airwaves, produced by T-Spize, and its Clarence Peters-directed music video unveiled a compelling narrative of love and societal divides. Collaborating with South African duo Mafikizolo on “Tchelete (Goodlife)” in April 2014 expanded Davido’s musical reach, complemented by a video directed by Twenty Twenty Media.
Further collaborations followed, including “Africa Rising” in June 2014, alongside artists like Mi Casa, Lola Rae, Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz, and Tiwa Savage. Davido’s partnership with Meek Mill birthed “Fans Mi” in June 2015, teasing fans with behind-the-scenes glimpses before its release.
Although Davido’s album “The Baddest” faced delays, with its release rescheduled several times, his signing with Sony Music in January 2016 marked a significant milestone. Establishing Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) shortly after, Davido’s label has since signed artists like Dremo, Mayorkun, Yonda, and Peruzzi. Despite the album’s postponements, Davido continued his musical journey, releasing the EP “Son of Mercy” in October 2016, showcasing his versatility with tracks like “Gbagbe Oshi” and “How Long.”
At the 2017 MOBO Awards, Davido clinched the title of Best African Act, marking a significant milestone in his career. His release of “If” on February 17, 2017, produced by Tekno, garnered immense success, with its music video surpassing 172 million views on YouTube. Notably, the song achieved diamond certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa and won accolades like Best Pop Single and Song of the Year at The Headies 2018. “If” received acclaim for its minimalist beat and captivating rhythm, further solidifying Davido’s musical prowess.
Following the success of “If,” Davido dropped “Fall” on June 2, 2017, featuring a sample of Kojo Funds’s “Dun Talking.” The song achieved platinum certification and made waves internationally, ranking among the top 10 records on Shazam in New York. “Fall” even made history as the longest-charting Nigerian pop song on Billboard. Its music video, directed by Nigerian-born British director Daps, became the most-viewed video by a Nigerian artist on YouTube by November 2023, surpassing 274 million views.
On November 10, 2017, Davido released “Fia,” produced by Fresh VDM, hailed for its neo-highlife vibe. The song addressed personal struggles, including Davido’s arrest and controversies surrounding him, earning praise for its introspective lyrics. Its music video, directed by Clarence Peters, further enhanced its impact.
Davido’s winning streak continued as he received accolades like Best African Act at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards and Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards. His performance at the House of Blues in Boston as part of “The Locked Up Tour” and at the Made in America Festival alongside renowned artists underscored his global appeal and influence in the music industry.
In January 2019, Davido made history by selling out London’s The O2 Arena, becoming the first solo African artist to achieve this feat since Wizkid in 2018. Introduced on stage by Idris Elba, Davido delivered a memorable performance, backed by The Compozers band, showcasing his hit singles. The Guardian’s Caroline Sullivan awarded the concert four stars out of five, praising Davido’s commanding stage presence and noting his influences from American rap artists like Young Thug and Swae Lee.
On July 26, 2019, Davido released “Blow My Mind,” featuring Chris Brown and produced by Shizzi. The accompanying music video broke records, reaching one million views in just 11 hours and becoming the fastest Nigerian music video to achieve this milestone. “Risky,” featuring Popcaan, dropped on October 23, 2019, with its Meji Alabi-directed music video drawing inspiration from the crime-drama series “Top Boy.”
Davido’s second studio album, “A Good Time,” debuted on November 22, 2019, featuring previously released singles like “If,” “Fall,” “Assurance,” “Blow My Mind,” and “Risky.” Recorded in Atlanta, Davido aimed to create a versatile body of work blending Afrobeats with other genres. The album’s announcement in September 2019 generated anticipation, with Davido teasing excerpts of four songs during a Lagos event. In July 2020, “A Good Time” surpassed 1 billion streams across digital platforms, solidifying Davido’s status as a global music icon.
In May 2020, Davido joined Mr Eazi and Tiwa Savage for Billboard magazine’s “Africa Now” cover story, discussing various topics including life during quarantine and the evolution of Afrobeats. On Twitter, Davido teased his third studio album, “A Better Time,” revealing plans to feature Tiwa Savage and highlighting the album’s rapid production process of assembling tracks within 14 days. In July 2020, he graced the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering a captivating medley of his songs “D&G” and “Fall” from his previous album “A Good Time.”
Davido continued to make waves with the Grammy Museum featuring him as a special guest in its Mentorship Monday series, where he engaged in an Instagram Live event. On September 10, 2020, he dropped the Dammy Twitch-produced single “FEM,” accompanied by a visually striking music video that quickly surpassed 1.8 million views on YouTube within 24 hours, breaking his own record set by “Blow My Mind.” “FEM” soared to the top of the Nigeria TurnTable Top 50 chart, replacing Wizkid’s “Ginger.”
“A Better Time” hit the airwaves on November 13, 2020, boasting guest appearances from artists like Lil Baby, Nicki Minaj, and Nas, among others. Davido poured his creativity into the album following the cancellation of his 2019 North American tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a philanthropic move, on November 17, 2021, he rallied colleagues and fans to donate one million naira, raising a total of 200 million naira, which he supplemented with 50 million naira of his own funds, all donated to orphanage homes in Nigeria.
In March 2022, Davido collaborated with American singer Trinidad Cardona and Qatari singer Aisha on the single “Hayya Hayya (Better Together),” featured on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack. May 2022 saw the release of Davido’s solo track “Stand Strong,” produced by Pheelz and featuring vocals by the Sunday Service Choir. September 2022 marked the announcement of Davido’s inaugural Are We African Yet (A.W.A.Y) music festival, held at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, featuring performances by Kizz Daniel, Pheelz, Lojay, and BNXN.
In June 2022, Davido revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that his fourth studio album, “Timeless,” was nearing completion. He further announced on Instagram on March 21, 2023, that the album would be released on March 31, accompanied by a theatrical trailer composed of tour footage. “Timeless” marked Davido’s first album in three years, with the title, suggested by record producer Don Jazzy, reflecting Davido’s aspiration for the album to be revered as a classic for decades.
In an interview with CNN, Davido discussed the album’s evolution through three phases before reaching its final version. Featuring 17 tracks and collaborations with artists like Skepta, Angelique Kidjo, and Focalistic, the album explored a variety of musical styles, primarily focusing on amapiano while incorporating elements of dancehall, ragga, konto, highlife, and Afropop. Production credits included Magicsticks, Rage, Blaisebeatz, and others.
The album’s cover art depicted Davido’s head, enclosed elephants, and a pathway leading to a large hourglass, symbolizing the timeless nature of the music within. The second single, “Unavailable,” garnered significant attention, charting across the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Suriname, where it reached the top 5.
On August 18, 2023, Davido dropped the remix of “Unavailable,” featuring American rapper Latto. The album’s recognition extended to the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, where Davido received three nominations, including Best Global Music Album for “Timeless” and Best African Music Performance for “Unavailable.”
In 2023, Davido collaborated with Nigerian singer Lojay on the song “Sensational,” featured by Chris Brown. The track made its debut on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Davido and Lojay’s first entry on the prestigious chart.
Personal life
Davido, with six children in total, has three boys and three girls. Tragically, his oldest son and third child, David Ifeanyi Adeleke Jr., passed away at the age of three. The unfortunate incident occurred when the child drowned in a swimming pool at Davido’s residence on Banana Island, as reported by Peoples Gazette newspaper on October 31, 2022. Following the incident, police questioned members of Davido’s household staff. Eight domestic workers were summoned to the police station for interrogation, with six eventually released and two detained after the investigation. Davido confirmed his marriage to his partner, Chioma Rowland, in March 2023.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 40 million dollars.