Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reignited debate within the Nigerian music space after asserting that the industry would have been dull without his presence.
In a post shared on his X handle, the singer wrote, “Imagine no Davido…. Sht would have been boring AF.”
The remark quickly stirred reactions online, with supporters applauding his self-confidence while critics described the statement as arrogant.
This is not the first time Davido has portrayed himself as a central force in the Afrobeats movement. In a recent interview on Apple Music, the award-winning artiste claimed the Nigerian music scene was effectively “shut down” during his three-month absence from social media following the tragic loss of his son in 2022, adding that even critics appealed for his return.
Davido rose to prominence in 2011 with the hit single Dami Duro, emerging alongside contemporaries such as Wizkid at a time when Afrobeats was gaining global traction. Since then, his influence on the genre has remained a subject of intense public debate.
However, veteran music producer Samkleff recently offered a contrasting view. He argued that while Davido’s emergence reshaped the industry, it also ushered in an era of heightened rivalry and toxicity rather than rescuing the scene from monotony.
According to Samkleff, the period before Davido’s rise was marked by greater mutual respect among artistes, suggesting that the current competitive climate has altered the industry’s dynamics.
