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Davido credits D’banj’s ‘Oliver Twist’ for paving way for Nigerian artistes globally
Afrobeats superstar Davido has paid a heartfelt tribute to veteran musician D’banj for his trailblazing role in gaining international recognition for Nigerian music.
During an interview with Apple Music, Davido revealed how D’banj’s 2012 hit single “Oliver Twist” inspired him to embrace African music and his cultural roots.
“D’banj was my first vision of a Nigerian artist taking over the world,” Davido shared. He noted that seeing Kanye West appear in the “Oliver Twist” music video on YouTube was a game-changing moment.
Davido credited the success of the track for opening doors globally for Nigerian artists like D’banj, 2Face, and P-Square, saying, “They were making about $1,000,000 per show.”
This realization marked a turning point in Davido’s career, motivating him to shift focus to African music. His tribute highlights D’banj’s pivotal contribution to putting Nigerian music on the global stage, cementing his legacy as a trailblazer for future generations of Afrobeats artists.
With this acknowledgment, Davido underscores the lasting impact of Oliver Twist and D’banj’s role in elevating Nigerian music to international prominence.
In other news, Davido and Lojay have been recognized by Billboard for their chart-topping success, as both artists were recently named to the publication’s 2024 Honor Roll.
This recognition highlights the growing global influence of Afrobeats, particularly in the U.S., where Nigerian artists have achieved notable success on various *Billboard* charts.
Davido and Lojay were honored for their contributions to chart-topping records on the R&B and hip-hop charts between August 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024.
Their inclusion in the 2024 Billboard Honor Roll comes from Davido’s involvement in Chris Brown’s track “Sensational,” which hit No. 1 on the Adult R&B Airplay Chart.