David Adeleke, better known by his stage name Davido, is a Nigerian singer who claims he is deserving of Forbes’ recent designation as the “King of Afrobeats” because it has always been his ambition to see the genre gain popularity in the west.
In a recent interview with Billboard News, he made this claim.
One of the first afrobeats musicians, according to him, to be signed by a significant worldwide record label.
When asked how it makes him feel to be referred to as the “King of Afrobeats” by Forbes, Davido responded, “I mean, it’s true. I’ve lived in both countries and in America. I attended school in Alabama, right here. I was always evangelizing about African culture, including the cuisine and attire.
“So when it came time to make music, my dream was always the crossover; ‘When will that crossover happen?'” I was among the first to be signed by a major label, too, as you may know.