Not afraid to flaunt his money: Nigeria’s Davido is performing in Kampala this evening. Emmy Omongin writes about the lad who is loved for his music and hated for showing off his and his father’s wealth.
Our big local artistes have these days decided to go for the West Africa’s top musicians in what they term as ‘battles’. The highly billed battle is the War of the Titans between Jose Chameleone and Nigeria’s young sensation, Davido, that is on at the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds this evening. It is a battle between a 21-year-old and a seemingly non aging, non-fattening 30-something-year-old (read Chameleone). So who is Chameleone up against?
Rich kid
David Adedeji Adeleke alias Davido is a performing and recording artiste and music producer. He was born in the US to Nigerian billionaire Dr Deji Adeleke and attended The British International School, Lagos. He has set up a record label called HKN Music, jointly owned by him and his elder brother.
The energetic star came into the limelight in 2011 after releasing his first hit single, Back When featuring Naeto C of the 10 over 10 fame. However, Davido became a household name in Uganda after dropping his top charter, Damiduro that received massive airplay.
Having taught himself several music production skills in various studios in his high school, he is one of the best music producers in Nigeria. He produces his own songs. In other words, he is a singer, producer, student and brand at the same time.
The saying “If you want something done, do it yourself,” is what led the brothers start the label as Davido believes that as a producer and recording artiste, he would be in the best in the position to create music that suits his style. When asked by MTV Base to choose an ideal producer to work with, he responded, “Myself, because I know exactly what I want!” He was however quick to mention that he would definitely be excited to work with Nigeria’s top producers like Sarz, Jaysleek and Don Jazzy.
Because of his wealthy dad, many people claim his father’s wealth has contributed highly to his success in the industry today. His way of answering them was naming his debut album Omo Baba Olowo (Son of a Rich Man), a line he keeps dropping in many of his songs. So, his father’s money aside, is he talented? Yes. The boy drops hit after hit, and isn’t that what every artiste aims to do? It’s not like the he hasn’t done anything for himself, though he gets support from his father.
His father seems hell-bent on seeing him graduating from university as most parents would, after all he also owns a university among his portfolio of properties. The last two years have been great for Davido. He made a very successful debut on the Nigerian music scene. What else could he ask for? Well, his dad doesn’t seem contented with Davido’s career. He asked him to join university and graduate with a degree. The Nigerian billionaire built an entire department at Babcock University, Nigeria for Creative Arts, which will have him and his manager as the only students for now.
According to ynaija.com, the dad has bought a car which takes the boys to and from the university, not that Davido doesn’t have his own fleet that has a 2012 Audi Q7, a Chevrolet Camaro and Mercedes Benz G55 AMG. His mother Veronica, an educationist herself was until her death in 2003, a lecturer at Babcock University.
Davido this year expressed his disappointment in the Forbes list of top 10 Bankable African Musicians, because his name didn’t appear. The financial magazine, Forbes in conjunction with Channel O released the list based on artiste sales, social media presence, endorsement value, YouTube views, show rates influence, appearance in newspapers, investments, popularity and other factors. He took to his Twitter page to express his dismay and here’s what he tweeted: “Forbes Balu” words which according to notjustok.com are a diss to Forbes for leaving him out of a list which had his arch rival Wizkid on it.
A fan replied him saying, “Apparently Forbes isn’t talking about artistes who inherited their father’s wealth.”
This obviously got at him and he retweeted, “Why be mad that my pops got money! Sorry ain’t my fault! Focus on the music!”
Davido also shunned the recently concluded Channel O Awards in South Africa for a Johnnie Walker event that was happening the same night in Nigeria, where he had been booked to perform together with D’banj and Banky W. But we are sure he will perform at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds as it’s him who broke the news of coming to Uganda on his Twitter page, when the deal was signed.
RICH DAD
David Adeleke popularly known as Davido, got enormous Nigerian social media buzz when he introduced himself as O.B.O (Omo Baba Olowo), which means a rich man’s son in his hit song, Damiduro.
Why wouldn’t he, when he has a father like Dr Deji Adeleke, chairman of Keplo-Pacific Energy, a company which is into banking, steel, power and energy.
Davido’s father is also the founder and pro-chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede in Osun State. Davido’s uncle, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, is a former Governor of Osun State. The music star once said his father tried to stop him from singing when he started, but has finally given his blessings and is supporting him every step of the way.
Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa according to Forbes, attended Davido’s first album launch and sat with the youngster’s father. Davido was launching the album aptly named Omo Baba Olowo (son of a rich man).
But the singer makes his own money as he is booked for shows five out of seven days a week and is also an MTN brand ambassador.
Spoilt brat?
Davido is liked for his music and disliked for his braggadocio in equal measure. The singer who calls himself Omo Baba Olowo (Son of a rich man) on several occasions goes to his Twitter page to brag about his money, leaving several people angry and some hurling insults at him.
Some of his posts that went viral include:
l “Bank account statement looking like I’m ready for early retirement.”
l “Why be mad that my pops got money. Sorry ain’t my fault! Focus on the music! Damn sh*t gets annoying!”
l “Go get yourself a rich dad.” Davido retweeted a fan who commented that he was living lavish because of his father. This was after the singer posted a picture of a Mercedes G55 AMG he was shipping into Nigeria.
l He once posted a N10m (about Shs157m) cheque, saying, “Great meeting, made a lil change.”
l “I could have been the child that just goes to school then go to work 4 dad and then make a lot more than I make as a musician, but I love the music more.”
