Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that his family chased him after he released his breakthrough hit, Dami Duro, as he pursued a music career against their wishes.
- +I was on the run when I released ‘Dami Duro’ — Davido
Davido said he faced strong opposition from his family, who wanted him to complete his education and follow the traditional path of working for his father’s business.
Davido said he faced strong opposition from his family, who wanted him to complete his education and follow the traditional path of working for his father’s business.
Speaking in an interview with Vibe Magazine on Thursday, the singer said he was still a teenager when he released ‘Dami Duro’, adding that the success of the song came at a time when he was under pressure from his family.
He said, “I was even on the run at the time from my family when I dropped that record.”
Reflecting on the lyrics of the song, Davido explained that they captured his personal struggles at the time, especially his determination to pursue music despite resistance from his family.
“If you listen to the record, like, ‘You stop trying to stop me, I’m the son of a rich man.’ So that was what I was going through at the time,” he said.
The singer, who disclosed that he released ‘Dami Duro’ at 17 going on 18, said the song changed his life and became a major turning point in his career.
Davido said he was raised in a family that prioritised education, noting that he was expected to complete school and join his father’s business.
“I come from a family which is education-based. The rule is that you go to school, after you go to school, you go and work for daddy. That’s how it is,” he said.
The Grammy-nominated artiste said being the last child in a family of five increased the pressure on him, as his siblings had already graduated while he was choosing a different path.
“I’m the last kid of five. So imagine the pressure on me having all my siblings have graduated,” he added.
Davido, however, said his father eventually became one of his biggest supporters after recognising his talent and success in music.
“My daddy was like, ‘Ah, why is he this last one? Why is he this stubborn last boy that does not want to…’ But now, that’s my biggest fan,” he said.
The singer also revealed that before releasing Dami Duro, he had spent time learning music production and mixing, skills that helped him create his early records.
According to him, the success of the song proved to many people that he was not relying solely on his wealthy background but had genuine talent.
He said he initially hid his privileged background because he wanted people to appreciate him for his music.
“I didn’t want them to know that I was well off because I just felt like they wouldn’t treat me the same,” Davido said.
The singer has now spent more than 15 years in the music industry, with multiple hit songs, international tours and awards to his name.
