David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido (born November 21, 1992), is a Nigerian-American music artist, singer, songwriter, record producer, and music executive.
He rose to prominence in the Nigerian music business with the release of his smash track, Dami Duro, in 2012. He received critical acclaim for his debut studio album, Omo Baba Olowo, which came out in 2012. Because of the success of his sophomore song, Omo Baba Olowo, he received the Next Rated Artiste award at The Headies 2012.
He secured a contract with RCA Records, a Sony Music subsidiary, in July 2016. In 2017, he recorded the chart-topping singles If and Fall. Both songs were successful globally, with Fall becoming the longest-charting Nigerian pop single in Billboard history.
He released his second studio album, A Good Time, in November 2019, and his third album, A Better Time, in 2020. Davido, who was previously contracted to HKN Records, formed his own record company, DMW (Davido Music Worldwide), in 2016. Mayorkun, Peruzzi, Dremo, Liya, Yonda, and Idowest are among the label’s notable artists. As a boss in the gtame, Davido is one of the Top 10 Richest Musician in Nigeria Forbes List 2025
Davido Biography
David Adedeji Adeleke was born on November 21, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Adedeji Adeleke (born 1957) is a Nigerian business magnate, while his mother, Vero Adeleke (1963-2003), was a university lecturer. Davido is the youngest of five siblings and his father’s third son. He attended the British International School in Lagos before returning to the United States at the age of sixteen to study business management at Oakwood University.
While at Oakwood, Davido purchased musical equipment and began producing beats. He also established the musical group KB International with his cousins B-Red and Sina Rambo. Davido dropped out of Oakwood University to pursue music full-time, moving to London to improve on his vocals.
After returning to Nigeria in 2011, Davido interrupted his music career and agreed to honour his father by enrolling at Babcock University, where he graduated in July 2015 with a degree in music after his father financed the university to establish a music department for an initial class of one student.
Career
Davido’s official first song, Back When, was released on May 7th, 2011. Rapper Naeto C provided vocals for the song, contributing to its prominence in the business. Davido produced the song, which was recorded in London, while Clarence Peters shot the music video in Nigeria. He was signed to HKN Records around this time, which is owned by his older brother, Adewale Adeleke.
Omo Baba Olowo, Davido’s debut studio album, was released in 2011, and it featured hit singles Dami Duro, Ekuro, Overseas, and Back When. Davido collaborated with a diverse range of skilled musicians and producers on the commercially successful album, including Maleek Berry, Spellz, Shina Rambo, 2baba, Jay Sleek, GospelOnDeBeatz, Naeto C, B-Red, Kayswitch, and Shizzi. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at The Headies 2013, and it also won Best R&B/Pop Album.
In 2013, Davido collaborated with his friend and producer Shizzi to deliver the smash singles Gobe, One Of A Kind, and Skelewu. Skelewu was a global smash hit because it fostered a distinct dance technique that remained popular for several years. Davido filmed two music videos for the single. Sesan directed the first, and Moe Musa shot the second in London.
Davido grabbed the music world by storm on February 1, 2014, when he released the single Aye. Clarence Peters shot the song video, which was released six days later. That same year, he worked with South African artist Mafikizolo to create and release the song Tchelete (Good Life).
Then, in June 2015, he released Fans Mi’s trap song, featuring American rapper Meek Mill as a guest artist. In January 2016, Davido announced to his followers that he had acquired a record deal with Sony Music through their music imprint, RCA Records.
Months later, he established his record label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW). He signed three acts that year: Mayorkun, Dremo, and Ichaba. In addition, he published a five-track EP titled Son Of Mercy in 2016. The project includes three singles: Coolest Kid In Africa (with Nasty C), How Long, and Gbagbe Oshi.
On February 17, 2017, he released the single “If” to considerable praise. Tekno wrote and produced the song, which won Best Pop Single and Song of the Year at The Headies in 2018. Furthermore, the single was certified diamond by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA), indicating that it sold more than 200,000 units. Director Q filmed and directed the music video for “If” in London.
Four months later, Davido delivered the international hit, Fall, on June 2nd, 2017. The song, which was one of the top-100 Shazam-searched singles in America, was also certified platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA) and became the longest-charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history. Daps shot and directed the music video for Fall in the United States. Since its debut, the music video has received over 100 million views on YouTube, making it the first video by a Nigerian artist to reach that milestone.
On November 10, 2017, just a few days before his twenty-fifth birthday, he released the single “FIA”. Fresh VDM produced the song, and Clarence Peters directed the video. He released Assurance on April 30, 2018, to commemorate his girlfriend Chioma Avril Rowland’s 23rd birthday. Davido won the Best African Act title at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards. He also won Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards.
In 2019, Davido sold out his organised event at London’s O2 Arena. He was the first individual African artist to achieve so. Before releasing his second studio album, A Good Time, on November 22nd, 2019, he released the top-charting songs Blow My Mind and Risky. He worked with Chris Brown on the former, and he included dancehall artist Popcaan on the latter. Meji Alabi directed the music video for “Risky.”
His third studio album, A Better Time, was released to the delight of his fans on November 13th, 2020. The song includes duets with Ckay, Mayorkun, Bella Shmurda, Lil Baby, Nas, Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, and Chris Brown. By December 2020, the album had received more than 213.2 million streams.
Before the project’s release, he released the single Fem on September 10th, 2020. Dammy Twitch directed the song video. In March 2022, Davido appeared on the single “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)” with American singer Trinidad Cardona and Qatari vocalist Aisha. The song was first included on the compilation album FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack (2022).
Davido released the Pheelz-produced track “Stand Strong” in May 2022, his first solo release of the year, including vocals from the Sunday Service Choir. In September 2022, Davido announced his first annual Are We African Yet (A.W.A.Y) music festival, which took place on November 18, 2022, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and featured performances by Kizz Daniel, Pheelz, Lojay, and BNXN.
In June 2022, Davido informed Rolling Stone magazine that his fourth studio album, Timeless, was nearly finished. On March 21, 2023, he revealed via Instagram that the album would be published on March 31. A cinematic video including tour footage accompanied the announcement. Timeless marked Davido’s first album in three years.
He told CNN that the album’s title, which record producer Don Jazzy offered to him, represents his desire for the album to be recognised for decades as a classic. He also told the news channel that the record went through three phases before reaching its ultimate form.
The 17-track album features collaborations with Skepta, Angelique Kidjo, Asake, Focalistic, The Cavemen, and more. It was produced by Magicsticks, Rage, Darmie, Blaisebeatz, 1da Banton, Caltonic SA, Young Alpha, and others.
Timeless is mostly an amapiano record that covers musical styles such as dancehall, ragga, konto, highlife, and Afropop. The album cover art depicts Davido’s head, two imprisoned elephants, and a walkway leading to a giant hourglass.
The second single from the album, “Unavailable,” gained traction and charted in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Suriname, where it reached the top five. On August 18, 2023, Davido released the remix of “Unavailable” with a verse by American rapper Latto.
At the 66th Grammy Awards, Davido received three nominations, including Best Global Music Album for Timeless and Best African Music Performance for “Unavailable”. In 2023, Chris Brown collaborated with Davido and Lojay on his single “Sensational,” which was released as the second single from his eleventh studio album. The song debuted at number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Davido and Lojay’s first appearance on the chart.
In January 2024, Davido received three nominations for the 55th NAACP Image Awards. In April 2024, Davido founded Nine+ Records in cooperation with UnitedMasters. In December 2024, he told Rolling Stone that his fifth studio album, 5ive, would be out in March 2025. He also stated that “Funds,” featuring rapper Odumodublvck and singer Chike, would be the album’s second single. The song includes a sample from Brenda Fassie’s 1997 single “Vuli Ndlela”.
Discography
- Omo Baba Olowo (2012)
- A Good Time (2019)
- A Better Time (2020)
- Timeless (2023)
- 5ive (2025)
Tours
- Davido UK Tour (with The Compozers) (2019)
- A Good Time North America Tour (2019–2020)
- WRBLO Tour (2022)
- Timeless North America Tour (2023)
- 5 Alive Tour (2025)
Personal life
Davido has six children: three girls and three boys (one of them has died). On October 31, 2022, the Peoples Gazette newspaper reported that Davido’s oldest son and third child, David Ifeanyi Adeleke Jr., drowned in a swimming pool at his father’s Banana Island home. He was three years old at the time. Police interviewed members of Davido’s domestic staff.
Eight domestic workers were summoned to the police station for questioning after one reported the drowning accident to the authorities. Following the police inquiry, six workers were released, while two remained detained.
Davido revealed his marriage to his long-time partner, Chioma Rowland, in March of 2023. He married on June 25, 2024, at Harbour Point on Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria. Several famous personalities attended the occasion, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Davido was styled by Deangelictouchstylist, Lucky Enemuo, and Ugo Monye. Davido was named an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in May 2023.
READ FULL Chioma Davido Biography, Family, Career, Husband, Net Worth
Davido Twins
On the beautiful day of October 13, 2023, Davido treated his devoted fans to a lovely video shared on his popular Instagram page. This wonderful footage captures a joyous moment as Davido and his beloved wife, Chioma Avril Rowland, walk out of the hospital, carrying their precious twins with enormous love and pride.
With their newborns snugly ensconced in secure car seats, the couple set off for Davido’s father, Adedeji Adeleke’s magnificent Bentley, which symbolised their growing success and the profound contentment that now surrounds their family.
Davido Net Worth
As of 2025, Davido has secured his position as one of Nigeria’s richest musicians, with an astronomical net worth of $100 million. Davido has been in the profession for more than ten years, and he has accumulated a fortune through sponsorship deals, music performances, and concert organisation. He is also an entrepreneur, having invested in successful enterprises around the world.
Social Media
Instagram: @davido
