Nigerian music icon David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has declared his indispensable role in the rise of afrobeats, asserting that his name is inseparable from the genre’s global story.
Speaking in the latest issue of TheBeatJuice magazine, the “Skelewu” hitmaker stated, “Afrobeats can’t be brought up without my name. Impossible.”
Davido’s assertion reflects his standing as one of the most influential afrobeats artists alongside Wizkid and Burna Boy, often referred to as the “big three” of African music. However, like his peers, Davido has previously expressed mixed feelings about the genre label.
In a past appearance on the Business Untitled Podcast, Davido criticized the tendency to box African artists into the afrobeats category regardless of their musical diversity.
“I don’t get offended when we’re categorized as afrobeats. I mean, we need a genre. It could be R&B or afropop,” he said.
He added, “I call my music afrofusion, but I’m not big on saying, ‘Oh, put afrofusion on my song.’ I know how long it took for African music to become mainstream.”
Despite his preference for the afrofusion label, Davido acknowledged the afrobeats tag as a unifying identity for African music that has significantly propelled its global recognition.
Davido’s contributions to afrobeats are undisputed. From chart-topping hits like “Fall” and “If” to groundbreaking international collaborations, he has been instrumental in bringing African music to the global stage.
With sold-out concerts, prestigious awards, and a legacy of breaking barriers, Davido continues to cement his place in the history of afrobeats and beyond.