Davido Shares His Journey with 'Dami Duro'

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, known as Davido, has opened up about how his family pursued him after he released his hit song, Dami Duro. He followed his dream of making music even though his family did not support him.

Davido faced strong pushback from his family, who preferred he finish school and work in his father's business. He shared this in an interview with Vibe Magazine on Thursday.

He was just a teenager when he dropped ‘Dami Duro’. The song’s success came during a tough time when his family was pressuring him to conform.

He said, “I was even on the run at the time from my family when I dropped that record.”

Davido explained that the lyrics of the song reflected his personal struggles. They showed his desire to follow music despite his family’s disapproval.

“If you listen to the record, like, ‘You stop trying to stop me, I’m the son of a rich man.’ So that was what I was going through at the time,” he said.

The artist, who was 17 going on 18 when he released ‘Dami Duro’, noted that the song changed his life and marked a turning point in his career.

He grew up in a family that valued education. He was expected to finish school and join his father’s business.

“I come from a family which is education-based. The rule is that you go to school, after you go to school, you go and work for daddy. That’s how it is,” he said.

Being the youngest of five siblings added to the pressure he felt. His older siblings had all graduated while he wanted to take a different route.

“I’m the last kid of five. So imagine the pressure on me having all my siblings have graduated,” he added.

Despite this, Davido mentioned that his father eventually became one of his biggest supporters. His dad recognized Davido's talent and success in music.

“My daddy was like, ‘Ah, why is he this last one? Why is he this stubborn last boy that does not want to…’ But now, that’s my biggest fan,” he said.

Before releasing Dami Duro, Davido spent time learning music production and mixing. These skills helped him create his early records.

He said the success of the song showed many people that he was not just relying on his family's wealth. He had real talent.

“I didn’t want them to know that I was well off because I just felt like they wouldn’t treat me the same,” Davido said.

Now, Davido has over 15 years in the music industry, with many hit songs, international tours, and awards.