Davido, born David Adedeji Adeleke on November 21, 1992, is a Nigerian-American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known as a leading figure in Afrobeats, he has been instrumental in taking the genre to global audiences. Born in Atlanta, USA, and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Davido initially studied business administration at Oakwood University but dropped out to pursue music.
His career began with the group KB International, but he gained fame in 2012 with the hit single "Dami Duro" from his debut album Omo Baba Olowo. The album produced other popular tracks like "Back When" and "Ekuro." He won the Next Rated award at The Headies that same year, marking his arrival in the Nigerian music scene.
Between 2013 and 2015, Davido released several hit singles, including "Skelewu," "Aye," and "Gobe," which cemented his status as a top artist. In 2016, he signed with Sony Music and launched his record label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), supporting artists like Dremo and Peruzzi. That year, he also released the Son of Mercy EP. However, creative differences led him to renegotiate his Sony deal in 2017. He then released chart-toppers like "If" and "Fall," with "Fall" becoming the longest-charting Nigerian song on Billboard.
Davido's second album, A Good Time (2019), included hits like "Assurance" and "Blow My Mind." In 2020, he released his third album, A Better Time, and appeared on Time magazine's Next 100 List. His fourth album, Timeless, arrived in 2023 and brought him Grammy nominations in 2023 for songs like "Unavailable."
Recognized as a cultural ambassador and human rights advocate, Davido is one of Africa's most-followed artists on social media. He continues to influence music and inspire fans globally.
