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I used to live in a 16-bedroom mansion alone with my Dad – Davido
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, recently opened up about his complex relationship with his father, billionaire businessman Dr. Deji Adeleke, during his early years.
Speaking on a new episode of the American podcast Bag Fuel Brigade, Davido recalled living alone with his father in their massive 16-bedroom mansion after his siblings moved abroad.
During that time, he revealed he secretly built a music studio inside the house — without his father’s knowledge.
“I was living alone with my dad in a 16-bedroom mansion because all my siblings were in America. I had a studio in the house and he didn’t know. A complete studio where I spent most of my time making music and smoking,” Davido recounted.
“I had a studio in the house, he (my Dad) didn’t know … “
Davido talks about being the only kid in his Dad’s 17-room mansion. pic.twitter.com/dKvTF2hYgK
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) April 14, 2025
At the time, Dr. Deji Adeleke was not supportive of Davido’s dream of pursuing a music career. Facing resistance, Davido made a bold decision: he fled Nigeria for London, determined to focus fully on his music journey.
However, this move sparked a massive search. Davido revealed that his father enlisted the army, immigration officers, and other security agencies across Nigeria to find him during the six months he spent abroad.
“I left the mansion for about six months. My dad was looking for me, the army, immigration officers, every security agency in Nigeria was looking for Dr. Deji Adeleke’s son — which is me,” he said.
His adventure came to an end when he was caught by an army officer at the airport upon his return to Nigeria.
“When I returned to Nigeria, I wasn’t planning to go home. I landed at the airport with the intention to go to a friend’s place, but the moment I stepped out, an army officer walked up to me and escorted me outside. The whole army was outside, like 20 of them.
Then I saw my dad. I hugged him. He asked, ‘Why did you run away?’ I said, ‘I wanted to do music. I just didn’t know how to tell you.’”
Davido’s story highlights the sacrifices, struggles, and determination behind his rise to global stardom — a testament to the dreams that refuse to be silenced.