Mp3bullet.ng presents Top moments that prove Davido is influential in the Industry.
Nigerian Superstar, David Adeleke also popularly known as Davido is one of the most successful and Influential singers to have come from Nigeria.
While the Nigerian Music Industry has a lot of talented artists, quite a number of them are influential, being able to change or undo a situation with just a word or their presence.
For Davido, influence has become of his greatest tools, the social capital the DMW Label boss boasts of, isn’t what many artists have.
Recently, Davido got the country talking with his massive Birthday fundraising, the first of its kind.
In Just 5 hours, the father of three got Celebrities and fans to donate money to him, generating over 100 Million Naira.
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Even on the next day of the fundraising, Davido is inching closer to 200 Million Naira.
Moments like this remind fans that Davido does have influence in the Industry. However, this is one of the many times that he has proven to be an influential artist in the country.
In this article, Mp3bullet.ng highlights the top moments that prove Davido is influential in the Industry
His Deal with Sony/RCA Deal
Davido’s influence on the Nigerian music scene to raise the Afrobeats level was recognized in 2016 by Sony Music’s RCA Records, one of the record labels known as the “big three.”
This acclaim was accompanied by a record deal that required him to release two albums while retaining ownership of his music and performances.
According to the label, they wanted to build a foothold in Africa, and Davido was the ideal guy to assist them to do so because of his weight in the industry, ever-growing fan following, and extensive catalogue of hit songs with significant development potential.
For Davido, this meant more exposure, a larger audience, and an introduction to a new musical landscape that he would follow for the rest of his career.
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The agreement also included Davido’s commitment to his original afrobeat sound, despite a rising trend among international singers to adapt their sound to appeal to a western audience.
According to reports, Davido was hesitant to accept the deal until his father and friends persuaded him to do so.
He also postponed and ultimately never published his planned sophomore album, The Baddest, since his contract required that his album have an international appeal.
Visit to a NYSC Camp
Davido shocked fans and even critics when he enlisted in the required National Youths Service Corps as a member of Batch C in August 2018.
When the music star arrived at the Lagos camp, he was met by other aspiring corps members as well as the organization’s staff.
Everyone was eager to snap a photo with the music superstar. The Internet couldn’t stop talking after he posted photographs of himself dressed in full NYSC regalia.
The artist left on a tour outside of the country after a few days in camp. He returned to assist his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, who was running for governor at the time.
After joining his uncle’s political campaign, the musician was ‘dekitted’ for violating NYSC guidelines.
Campaigning for his Uncle
With over 20 million Instagram followers and 9 million Twitter followers, he has become the most followed Nigerian celebrity on those social media sites. These figures have given him not only rest, but also enormous political power.
In 2019, the musician postponed his tour to campaign for his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, who was running for governor of Osun state. Davido’s presence in the state is said to have sparked tremendous support for the older Adeleke during the election.
EndSARS and Activism
When Davido released FEM, his third album’s opening and lead single, he probably had no idea the setting in which the song would take on a life of its own.
Nigeria’s youth collectively expressed their dissatisfaction in a nationwide movement known as the #ENDSARS movement in the later half of 2020.
Aside from his song being important in the joyful energy and much-needed solidarity for the youth-dominated movement, Davido actively advocated against police violence.
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He even went so far as to physically join the protesters and secure the release of a number of unarmed demonstrators.
He was summoned to Abuja by the Inspector General of Police at some time to assist in the handling of the hazardous situation.
While social activism continues to be active in the country, the pinnacle of the protests has passed. When looking back on the events of that time, Davido marching towards armed cops with his hands in the air is a memorable image that will help him carve out a name for himself as a social activist.
