Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has addressed the backlash following his recent comments on Nigeria’s economic struggles. His remarks, made during an appearance on The Big Homies House podcast, have stirred debates among fans, industry colleagues, and media personalities.
In the widely circulated interview, Davido urged Black Americans to reconsider relocating to Nigeria, citing poor leadership, economic challenges, and rising oil prices as major concerns.
“It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles,” he stated during the podcast. Elaborating further, he added, “The exchange rate is messed up, a lot of things are not going well. The economy is just not good enough. Imagine a country that produces oil paying more for it than a country importing oil.”
Davido also addressed his dual role as both an entertainer and a representative of Nigeria, saying, “I do my part; I am an ambassador. When I go home and I am filming, I am not going to show the bad parts.”
The comments drew criticism, with some accusing the singer of tarnishing Nigeria’s image. Akashat Ny’mat, a presenter on TVC, argued that while Davido’s remarks reflected reality, they were inappropriate on an international platform.
“When the President takes a plane to a country to look for foreign investors, and a prominent figure like Davido says this, he is essentially telling them not to come,” Ny’mat said during a segment on TVC.
Unfazed by the backlash, Davido defended his position in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter). He doubled down on his stance, describing himself as a “real ambassador” of Nigeria.
“Lmao #tvcnewsng nah today? You all are mad ‘cus we the real ambassadors,” he wrote, addressing his critics. The singer also expressed amusement over his podcast delivery, adding in pidgin English, “The way my accent be for that interview dey sweet me very demure.”
Responding to concerns that his comments might lead to the cancellation of his Nigerian shows, Davido said, “Dem say dem go cancel my show cus of my interview … loooool I don’t have to perform in Nigeria.”
Since rising to fame in 2012 with his hit single Dami Duro, Davido has become one of Africa’s most influential artists. Despite the ongoing controversy, the singer remains resolute in his views about Nigeria’s economic challenges and his role as a cultural ambassador.
