Davido: D’banj was Nigeria’s first global star

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has stated that D’banj was the first Nigerian artist to gain global recognition.

Davido noted that before D’banj’s 2012 hit single “Oliver Twist,” Nigerian artists struggled to secure international bookings. In a recent Apple Music interview, Davido credited D’banj’s international success with initiating a shift that allowed African music to gain prominence in the Western world.

He explained, “D’banj was the first Nigerian artist I saw taking over the global stage. Before him, no Nigerian artists were being booked in America. Everything changed when I saw Kanye West in D’banj’s ‘Oliver Twist’ video on YouTube.”

Davido added, “Thanks to ‘Oliver Twist,’ Americans began booking D’banj, 2Face, P-Square, and other African artists for shows, with some earning around $1,000,000 per performance. This inspired me to focus on African music, as it’s where my roots are.”

While D’banj played a significant role in the global rise of Afrobeats, some critics argue against Davido’s claim that he was the first Nigerian artist to achieve international fame. Legends like Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Majek Fashek had already gained international acclaim in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Additionally, 2Baba (formerly 2Face) earned international recognition with his hit song “African Queen,” which was featured in the American film “Phat Girlz” (2006) before D’banj’s “Oliver Twist” was released.