Keypoints:
- Davido says Nigerian culture is going global
- Urges Africans to stay home and build
- New album 5ive targets world audiences
NIGERIAN music superstar Davido believes the world is finally catching up with what Africa has always known — Nigerian culture is powerful, vibrant, and now undeniably global.
‘We’re very popular, not only in music,’ the 32-year-old singer told AFP during a recent chat in Paris. Whether it’s fashion, film or food, he says Nigeria is exporting its essence to the world — and it’s being embraced like never before.
With the release of his new album 5ive this Friday, Davido is amplifying that momentum. ‘We have music for the French people. We have music for the Caribbean people. We have music for the Americans, Africans, everybody,’ he said. ‘It’s like a full, global package album.’
‘I like it’ – Western artists embracing Afrobeats
Some critics argue that American artists are now borrowing from Afrobeats without giving full credit. Davido, however, welcomes the trend.
‘It’s a privilege for another culture to try to imitate what you’re doing,’ he told AFP. ‘Music is a universal language. So I don’t see any problem with that.’
The Nigerian-American artist, born David Adedeji Adeleke in Atlanta, knows the power of cultural fusion. But he remains rooted in the rhythms of home. With over eight million monthly listeners — even Britain’s King Charles is reportedly a fan — Davido stands at the centre of Afrobeats’ global surge.
‘Don’t leave your people and go’
Despite his international fame, Davido is vocal about the importance of staying connected to Nigeria. ‘Everybody always has the American dream,’ he said. ‘Every kid that grows up in Africa wants to visit America. That’s cool. It’s okay to visit, but don’t leave your people and go there.’
His words come at a time when many Nigerians, facing the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation, are embracing jakpa — a Yoruba word meaning ‘escape’ — to describe their desire to emigrate.
Davido urges a different dream. He believes Africa’s future depends on those who choose to build it from within. ‘Nigeria is a very rich country with so much talent, so much grace, so much opportunity,’ he said.
From backyard parties to global stages
Music has been a constant in Davido’s life since childhood. ‘I grew up in an African household where we were always throwing parties, music was always playing,’ he recalled.
A cousin introduced him to studio life as a teenager, where he saw African music being created firsthand. That moment sparked a passion. Inspired by homegrown stars like P-Square — who themselves drew from American influences such as Michael Jackson — Davido began making his own music at 16.
Today, hits like Unavailable and Aye have cemented his place in the global music scene. With a world tour on the horizon — including stops in Paris, London, New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles — Davido is bringing his message to a wider audience.
Still, he hasn’t lost focus on the struggles back home. ‘We’ve been going through hard times,’ he told AFP. ‘I’ve sung about it in the past. But I’m very vocal about it more in Africa than in America.’
As 5ive prepares to echo across continents, Davido’s vision is clear: let the world dance to Nigeria’s beat, but never forget where that rhythm comes from.
