At 31, Davido (David Adeleke) finds himself on a level he once only dreamed of — sold-out arenas, international acclaim and a new album (“5i...
At 31, Davido (David Adeleke) finds himself on a level he once only dreamed of — sold-out arenas, international acclaim and a new album (“5ive”) that's fueling the global leg of his “5ive Alive” tour. But rewind a bit: he once skipped classes, built beats alone on YouTube, and wondered if the music life was even possible. It’s the kind of story that hits home — much like when Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele started out shining in local sitcoms before hosting blockbuster movies. Today, Davido’s living proof that persistence pays.
When Davido sits down for an interview, he doesn’t just talk chart-toppers and sold-out shows — he also talks the aches, the doubts and the early mornings at a laptop figuring out how to make this music thing work. Recently, in a candid chat with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, he opened up about the hard-to-believe journey to his current global status.
From skipping school to making beats
It wasn’t always lights and cameras. Davido revealed he used to sit on his laptop, open his music software (Logic), watch YouTube tour vlogs, and think: “That could be me one day.” Back then, he felt like a kid chasing a big dream, from the U.S. where he studied to Nigeria where his family legacy already loomed. In one quote he said: “Never imagined it here… we sold out 1,000, 2,000, then 30, 40…
That early phase? It taught him two things: one — you don’t always start with a full house, and two — you better treat every stage like a stepping stone. It’s a lesson similar to what some Nigerian film stars learned: your first movie isn’t going to be your biggest, but it can set the tone.
The “5ive Alive” Tour: Now the world knows his name
Fast forward to 2025 and Davido is riding high on his fifth studio album “5ive” and its global tour. The North American leg alone saw him sell out 12 venues. “We did it. We sold out every night and made millions of dollars,” he proclaimed after a show in Maryland.
In Canada, he filled venues like Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena (capacity around 19,000) — this is significant for a Nigerian artist who once imagined making it big only on YouTube.
And the story doesn’t stop in North America. The Nigerian leg began in Uyo, then Yola, Enugu, with Ibadan following — each city showing that home still matters. In Ibadan alone, he packed the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium for roughly 25,000 fans, turning the home-coming tour into a celebration of his roots.
What changed (and what stuck)
What changed is obvious: bigger venues, bigger budgets, bigger audiences. What hasn’t changed is the mindset. Davido still talks about faith, gratitude and staying grounded. He thanked his father for cancelling a binding record deal worth $200,000 early on — a move that preserved his freedom and let him grow on his own terms.
Also, he still remembers the people, the nights when they were just trying to fill a small venue and make noise. It’s that authenticity that African fans relate to — you see one of your own making it and you believe you can too.
A real-world example: Building your stage
Just like Davido, Nigerian filmmaker and actor Funke Akindele started small, using home videos and local opportunities before becoming a powerhouse producer with “A Trip to Jamaica,” huge box office returns, and global recognition. That mindset of starting small, staying focused, and expanding globally is now being mirrored across African creatives.
Why this matters for fans and the culture
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It shows Afrobeats is no longer just for Lagos rooftop parties — it’s dominating arenas around the world.
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It gives emerging African artists hope: you don’t have to wait for permission to shine.
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It reminds fans of the humility behind the hype. Those big crowds mean something more when you remember the journey.
Conclusion
From laptop beats to multi-million-dollar tour nights, Davido’s ride has been wild, emotional and deeply significant — not just for him, but for Afrobeats and young Africans everywhere. He once said he never imagined this would be his reality; now he’s living it, and bringing the world with him. And if you think about your own dreams? Maybe the stage you see today starts with the small ones you didn’t give up on.