Afrobeats megastar David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, has spoken candidly about the criticism he faces in the Nigerian entertainment industry, attributing much of it to his privileged upbringing.
In a recent appearance on the Culture Knock Out podcast, the Unavailable crooner reflected on how perceptions of his family’s wealth affected his music journey. Davido revealed that early in his career, most people had no idea that his father, billionaire businessman Dr. Deji Adeleke, was one of Nigeria’s wealthiest men.
According to him, this allowed him to quietly build momentum in the industry without the stigma of being labelled a “rich kid” trying to break into music. By the time the public became aware of his affluent background, Davido had already cemented his place with multiple hit songs.
“I’m probably the most criticized artist in Nigeria,” Davido admitted. “In the beginning, they didn’t know my dad was rich. It was too late; I had already done three hit songs before people found out. But I just wanted to make music, even if it meant being homeless. That was all I cared about.”
He further explained that while criticism intensified after his rise to fame, he remained focused on his passion. “Over time, people started hating me because my dad is rich. But I keep dropping good music, and it keeps working.”
Davido likened the situation to what happens in politics, saying, “It happens to everyone. When you become the biggest in anything, you get criticized. You’re loved when you’re trying to get there, but when you arrive, people turn on you.”
Despite the criticism, Davido continues to thrive, solidifying his legacy as one of Africa’s biggest music exports.
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Elizabeth Clifford
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