Life and music career
1992–2010: Early life and career beginnings
DAVIDO BIOGRAPHY – Early Life Davido was born on November 21, 1992, to Adedeji and Vero Adeleke in Atlanta, Georgia. His father is a Nigerian business magnate and his late mother was a university lecturer. He attended the British International School in Lagos. Davido studied business administration at Oakwood University prior to relocating to Nigeria. Davido’s interest in music started during his time at Oakwood University. He bought musical equipment and started making beats, in addition to recording vocal references. He dropped out of Oakwood University when he started getting bad grades and relocated to London, where he focused more of his energy towards vocals as opposed to production. When Davido returned to Nigeria in 2011, his music career was sidelined after he agreed to honor his father by enrolling at Babcock University. In July 2015, Davido earned a music degree from Babcock after his father paid the university to erect a music department for an inaugural class of one.
|
|---|
2011–2012:Omo Baba Olowo
Davido started working on his debut studio album Omo Baba Olowo in 2011. He enlisted Jay Sleek, Maleek Berry, GospelOnDeBeatz, Spellz, Dokta Frabz, Mr. Chidoo, Theory Soundz and Shizzi to produce the album. The music of Omo Baba Olowo embodies Afropop and Afrobeat sounds, with an influence of hip hop. The album features guest appearances from Naeto C, Sina Rambo, B-Red, Kayswitch, Ice Prince and 2 Face Idibia. Omo Baba Olowo received generally negative reviews from music critics, who denounced its lyrical content and production. The album won Best R&B/Pop Album and received a nomination for Album of the Year at The Headies 2013. It was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
The Naeto C-assisted track “Back When” was released as album’s lead single on May 7, 2011. Produced by Davido himself, the song received frequent airplay. The Clarence Peters-directed music video for “Back When” was uploaded onto YouTube on May 9, 2011. Davido told Factory 78 TV that he recorded “Back When” in London. The album’s second single “Dami Duro” was released on October 30, 2011. It was jointly produced by Davido and Shizzi. The accompanying music video for “Dami Duro” was released on January 8, 2012. It was also directed by Clarence Peters, and was released during the Occupy Nigeria protests. In an interview posted on the NotJustOk website, Davido spoke on the release and composition of “Dami Duro”. He said he recorded the song in August 2011. Three months later, the song got leaked after he sent it out to some friends.
On May 6, 2012, HKN Music released “Overseas” as the album’s fourth single. The unfinished version of the song leaked prior to the official release. The Gospelondebeatz-produced “All of You” was released as the album’s fifth single on September 28, 2012. Davido also revealed to Factory 78 TV that he recorded the song with Gospelondebeatz after meeting him at a mall.
2013–2015: Music releases and Africa Rising campaign
In early 2013, Davido began recording his second studio album. On February 25, 2013, he released “Gobe” as the upcoming album’s lead single. The song was produced by Shizzi. Charles Mgbolu of Vanguard commented on the release of the single, saying: “It’s a beautiful song with a tremendous video running along. In Gobe, Davido is beaten up by thugs after winning the girl. It’s a song that exudes fun from start to finish.” The music video for the single was shot in South Africa by Godfather Productions. The song was ranked second on Premium Times list of the Top 10 songs of 2013.
Davido announced via Twitter that the second single “One of a Kind”, from the upcoming album, would be released on May 13, 2013. The song was also produced by the aforementioned in-house producer. The music video for “One of a Kind” was shot and directed in South Africa by Tebza of Godfather Productions. It visualizes a united Africa rich in culture and music.
“Skelewu“, the third single from the upcoming album, was released on August 13, 2013. It was ranked 5th on the aforementioned list of the top 10 songs of 2013. The song peaked at number 1 on Afribiz’s Top 100 chart. A dance competition with a cash prize of $3000 (₦480,000) was announced days after the release of the song. Davido uploaded an instructional dance video onto YouTube and asked fans to upload videos of themselves dancing to “Skelewu”. On October 10, 2013, Davido declared Bello Moshood Abiola the winner of the competition. A week after announcing the winner of the Skelewu dance competition, a Sesan directed music video was released to the public. Shortly after the release of the video, Davido took to Twitter to debunk the video and said that someone betrayed him by releasing it. He also said he’ll re-shoot the video with Moe Musa, a UK based music video director. Sesan commented on the release of the music video and said that Davido was satisfied with his contributions to the music video. He also said that it would be immature for Davido and his management to release inaccurate statements in order to defame his brand. On October 21, 2013, the official music video for the single was shot and directed in London by Moe Musa. It was uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 3 minutes and 56 seconds.
On February 2, 2014, Davido released “Aye” as the fourth single from the upcoming album. The song was produced by T Spize. The music video for “Aye” was released on February 7, 2014, and was directed by Clarence Peters. According to the music video’s synopsis, “Davido plays a poor farmer who falls in love with the prince’s love interest.” On April 30, 2014, HKN Music released the upcoming album’s fifth single “Tchelete (Goodlife)” featuring South African duo Mafikizolo. The song, which translates to “Money”, was produced by Oskido and Shizzi. Upon its release, the song was distributed by MTN’s Play and Callertunez platforms. The collaboration between Davido and Mafikizolo came about as a result of them networking at MTN Nigeria’s Elite Night event in December 2013. The music video for the song was shot and directed in South Africa. It was uploaded onto YouTube on May 1, 2014. Oskido and Uhuru made cameo appearances in the video.
In June 2014, Davido collaborated with Mi Casa, Lola Rae, Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz and Tiwa Savage on a song for DSTV’s Africa Rising campaign, which was designed to inspire Africans to partake in community-based social investment projects. The music video for the song, released on June 24, 2014, was shot and directed by South African production house Callback Dream. The aforementioned artists performed the song at the Africa Rising launch ceremony in Mauritius. In July 2014, Davido told The New Age newspaper that he plans on collaborating with American rappers Rick Ross and Meek Mill. In June 2015, Davido dropped his long-awaited collaboration with Meek Mill titled “Fans Mi”.
2017–2018: BET Awards
On November 30, 2017, Davido won the Best African Act at the MOBO Awards and also became the first African act to perform live at the awards.
On June 24, 2018, Davido became the first African-based artist to have received his award on the BET Awards main stage. His award was presented by Hollywood actor Omari Hardwick and actress Tika Sumpter. In his acceptance speech, he urged patrons and American artists to visit Africa and also to enjoy the food.
Davido’s Nwtworth
Davido net worth 2019 is $24 million including all of his assets and Investments. He is currently the 1st richest Nigerian musician above Wizkid. Wizkid and Davido net worth makes Forbes list of highest grossing celebrities in Africa
Davido’s Endorsements
On April 6, 2012, Nigerian Entertainment Today reported that Davido signed a ₦30 million endorsement deal with MTN. The deal unveiled him as the face of MTN Pulse, a marketing campaign for Nigerian youths. On October 24, 2013, Pulse Nigeria reported that Guinness Nigeria signed Davido to an endorsement deal. As part of the deal, Davido performed at the Guinness World of More Concert alongside P-Square, D’banj, Wizkid, Ice Prince, Burna Boy, Olamide, Phyno, Chidinma, Waje and Tiwa Savage, among others. On May 9, 2018, Guardian Life reported that Davido signed an endorsement deal with Infinix Mobile, a Hong Kong-based smartphone manufacturer.
Controversies
In May 2014, Davido attacked the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) after missing his flight to London. He accused them of pestering him for money. On May 11, 2014, the Public Relations Officer for the NIS denied Davido’s allegations and said they didn’t issue him an exit permit because he didn’t have the proper travel documents with him at the time.
In December 2015, Vanguard newspaper reported that Davido and his daughter’s mother, Sophia Momodu, were embroiled in a struggle over their child’s custody. The newspaper reported that it all started after Sophie and her family filed a petition against Davido and his family for alleged child trafficking. In a petition sent to the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Davido and his family were accused of keeping Imade away from her mother as well as trying to flee Nigeria with the baby. Davido has since insisted that the allegations against him are false, but apologised to Dele Momodu, the cousin of Sophia Momodu
| DAVIDO
|
|
|---|---|
|
Davido Songs
Fall
2017
 One Ticket
No Bad Songz · 2018
 Assurance
2018
 If
2017
 Bum Bum
2019
 FIA
2017
 Skelewu
Queen of Katwe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) · 2016
 Aye
The Baddest · 2015
 Coolest Kid in Africa
Son of Mercy – EP · 2016
 Wonder Woman
2018
 Gobe
The Baddest · 2015
 Flora My Flawa
2018
 Nwa Baby
2018
 Dami Duro
Omo Baba Olowo · 2012
 Like Dat
2017
 Tchelete
The Baddest · 2015
 Fans Mi
The Baddest · 2015
 The Money
2013
 Ekuro
Omo Baba Olowo · 2012
 Owo Ni Koko
The Baddest · 2015
My Lilly
2017
Pere
2017
All Of You
Omo Baba Olowo · 2012
Ji Masun
2018
Gbagbe Oshi
Son of Mercy – EP · 2016
Dodo
The Baddest · 2015
Summer Body
2017
Biko
2016
Naughty
2014
Back When
Omo Baba Olowo · 2012
How Long
Son of Mercy – EP · 2016
Feel Alright
Omo Baba Olowo · 2012
|
DavidoAlbumsSummer 2018
 Omo Baba
 The Baddest
 According to
 DJ Afrobeat
 Best Of
 Son of Mercy –
Naija Hits
Collywood
Boddhi Satva
 Summer 2018
|
Davido’s Awards
Soul Train Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Davido for “Aye” | Best International Performance | Nominated |
The Future Africa Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | African Young Person of the Year | Nominated |
Kora Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Himself | Best Newcomer Award | Won |
BET Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best International Act: Africa | Won |
25 Jun 2018 – Nigerian musician Davido has become the first international act nominee to receive his award live on stage during the main Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards. … Organisers of the awards, BET have received a lot of flack from artistes and Africans for the decision to award Davido.
Ben TV Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best Male Artist | Nominated | |
| “Daddy” (Reminisce featuring Davido) |
Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| “Number One” Remix (Diamond Platnumz featuring Davido) |
Best International Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| “Aye” | Music Video of the Year | Won |
Dynamix All Youth Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Himself | Promising Youth Artiste | Won | |
| “Back When” | Song of the Year | Won |
MOBO Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best African Act | Nominated |
MTV Europe Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best African Act | Nominated |
African Muzik Magazine Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best Male West Africa | Won | |
| Artist of the Year | Won | |||
| “Skelewu” | Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Dance in a Video | Nominated | |||
| “Number One Remix” | Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Collabo | Nominated |
MTV Africa Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best Male | Won | |
| Artist of the Year | ||||
| “Number One” (Remix) (Diamond featuring Davido) |
Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| “Skelewu” | Song of the Year |
World Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | World’s Best Male Artist | Nominated | |
| World’s Best Live Act | Nominated | |||
| World’s Best Entertainer Of The Year | Nominated |
Channel O Music Video Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | “Aye” | Most Gifted Male | Nominated | |
| Most Gifted Afropop | Nominated | |||
| Most Gifted West | Nominated | |||
| Most Gifted Video | Nominated | |||
| “Skelewu” | Most Gifted Dance | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | “Gobe” | Most Gifted Afro Pop Video | Nominated | |
| 2012 | “Dami Duro” | Most Gifted Dance Video of the Year | Nominated | |
| Most Gifted Newcomer Video of the Year | Won |
Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA)
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | “Aye” | Video of the Year | Nominated | |
| Indigenous Concept | Nominated | |||
| Best Use Of Costumes | Nominated | |||
| Best Afro Pop Video | Won | |||
| “Tchelete (Goodlife)” (featuring Mafikizolo) |
Best Pop Extra Video | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | “All of You” | Best Dance Hall/Reggae Video | Nominated | |
| “Gobe” | Best Pop Extra Video | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | “Dami Duro” | Best Video By A New Artiste (Live Beats Choice) |
Won |
4Syte TV Music Video Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | “Aye” | Best African Video | Nominated | |
| 2013 | “Gobe” | Best African Act Video | Nominated | |
| 2012 | “Dami Duro osezy” | Nominated |
Ghana Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | African Artiste Of The Year | Won | |
| 2013 | Nominated |
City People Entertainment Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Musician Of The Year (Male) | Won | |
| “Aye” | Most Popular Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Video of the Year | Nominated | |||
| “Daddy” (Reminisce featuring Davido) |
Best Collabo of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Himself | Musician of the Year (Male) | Nominated | |
| Best Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year | Nominated | |||
| “Gobe” | Most Popular Song of the Year | Nominated |
The Headies
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Himself | Artiste of the Year | Won | |
| “If” | Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Best Pop Single | Won | |||
| Headies Viewer’s Choice | Nominated | |||
| “Like Dat” | Best Music Video | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Himself | Artiste of the Year | Won | |
| “Aye” | Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Best Pop Single | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Himself | Artiste of the Year | Nominated | |
| Hip Hop World Revelation | Won | |||
| “Omo Baba Olowo” | Best R&B/Pop Album | Won | ||
| Album of the Year | Nominated | |||
| “Gobe” | Best Pop Single | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Himself | Next Rated | Won | |
| “Dami Duro” | Best Pop Single | Nominated | ||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
| “Carolina” (Sauce Kid featuring Davido) |
Best Collabo | Nominated |
Nigeria Entertainment Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | “Aye” | Hottest Single of the Year | Won | |
| Himself | Male Artist of the Year | Won | ||
| “Skelewu” | Best Music Video of the Year (Artist & Director) | Nominated | ||
| “Gallardo” (RunTown featuring Davido) |
Best Collaboration | Won | ||
| “Mofe Lowo Ju Daddy Mi” (Reminisce featuring Davido) |
Nominated | |||
| 2013 | O.B.O (Omo Baba Olowo) | Best Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| Himself | Best Pop/R&B Artiste of the Year | Won | ||
| 2012 | “Dami Duro” | Hottest Single of the Year | Won | |
| Himself | Best New Act of the Year | Won | ||
| “Carolina” (Sauce Kid featuring Davido) |
Best Collabo of the Year | Won |
Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Davido | Favorite African Star | Nominated |
PHOTOS
YOUTUBE VIDEOS |
|---|
Davido – If (Official Music Video)
Davido – Fall (Official Video)
Davido – Wonder Woman (Official Video)
MORE»»»
   |
|---|
