Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that he experienced a period of financial hardship at the beginning of his music career despite being born into a wealthy family.
The singer shared the experience during an appearance on the Uncut Podcast, explaining that his early struggles helped inspire some of the music he released at the time.
Davido specifically pointed to his song “Back When”, saying the track reflected what he was experiencing personally rather than being entirely fictional.
“My song ‘Back When’ was inspired by a true experience. There was a time I was broke,” he said.
According to the singer, he had friends from affluent families who lived in expensive homes in Ikoyi and moved around with police escorts, while he did not have comparable financial resources.
The revelation offers a different perspective on Davido’s early career, which has often been discussed in relation to his family background. His father, Adedeji Adeleke, is a prominent Nigerian businessman, and Davido grew up in a financially privileged household.
However, the singer has repeatedly described his decision to pursue music as a path that required him to establish himself independently. His early career was reportedly met with resistance from his father, who wanted him to concentrate on his education.
Davido eventually gained recognition with songs including “Back When” and went on to become one of the leading figures in Nigeria’s Afrobeats movement.
His story is significant because it highlights the difference between being born into a wealthy family and having personal access to that wealth at every stage of life. It also provides context for the challenges he says shaped his determination during his formative years in the music industry.
Today, Davido is an internationally recognised artiste with a catalogue of successful records and major global collaborations. His career has contributed significantly to the worldwide growth of Afrobeats.
His latest reflection offers fans another glimpse into the experiences that shaped his journey from an aspiring musician to one of Africa’s most prominent global music stars.
