Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has said he faces intense criticism in Nigeria largely due to his privileged upbringing and wealthy background.
Speaking on the Culture Knock Out podcast, the singer explained that many people judge him not for his music but because he is the son of billionaire businessman Dr. Deji Adeleke.
“I’m the most criticised artist in Nigeria,” Davido said. “I’ve been on fire for a long time. In the beginning, people didn’t even know my dad was rich, so the stigma of being a rich kid didn’t hit me immediately.”
He revealed that when he first broke into the music scene, he deliberately kept his background low-key. “By the time they found out my dad was wealthy, I had already dropped three hit songs. It was too late to write me off,” he added.
Despite the backlash, Davido insisted that his passion for music was always genuine. “I just wanted to do music. I didn’t care if I had to be homeless—nothing else mattered.”
He acknowledged that criticism often comes with success: “Once you become the biggest in anything, people start to hate. It’s like politics—people love you when you’re running, but once you win, they turn against you.”
Davido concluded by saying that he continues to let his music speak for itself. “I keep dropping good music, and it keeps working.”
