Davido is a Nigerian afrobeat and afrobeats recording artist, producer and performer. Born David Adeleke in Atlanta, Nigeria in 1992, he grows up between the United States, the United Kingdom and Nigeria and attends The British International School, Lagos. His music draws on that background and on influences including Don Jazzy, 2Baba, Sound Sultan and Wande Coal.

Music career

Davido starts making music at the age of 11 and begins working professionally as a recording artist and producer in 2011. He is associated with HKN Music, a label he sets up with his older brother Ade. He also builds a recording studio for HKN Records and puts together management and PR support for his work while studying at Babcock University.

His early releases include Back When, featuring Naeto C, and Dami Duro, which becomes one of his best-known songs and gains heavy radio, television and online attention. He also produces music for Naeto C, Skales, Tiwa Savage and Sauce Kid, and uses the production tag “on the beat its Davido”.

Collaborations and performances

Davido records with artists including Naeto C, Shank, Lynxxx, Dotstar, Sauce Kid, DJ Skales, Tiwa Savage, Mo’Cheddah, DJ Neptune, FlxeFit and Wizkid. He shares stages with T-Pain, Fabolous, Keith Sweat, Cabo Snoop, D’Banj and Naeto C, and performs at events including Koko Concert, Rhythm Unplugged, Echo 2011, Access Bank End of Year Party, Sahara End of Year Concert, The Music Meets Runway Show, P-Square Invasion Concert, This is Lynxxx Campus Tour, Vivendi Fashion Show, Clan by Deola Sagoe, Loud on Sound Concert and London Elite Model Look 2011.

Style and outlook

He describes his music as guided by a desire to make people happy and dance, and links that to his late mother, who dies in 2003 and is a major source of inspiration for his work. He is also described as playful and focused, balancing music with business studies and using what he learns in school to help run his career.

Fan base and profile

By the early 2010s, Davido builds a substantial audience in Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom, with fans across the 14-to-28 age range. His name becomes closely associated with a rapidly growing brand in Nigerian popular music, supported by regular performances and increasing media attention.