David Adedeji Adeleke, known worldwide as Davido, was born on November 21, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a Nigerian-American singer, songwriter, record producer, and label founder.
He rose to fame with his 2012 hit “Dami Duro” and built one of Africa’s largest music empires through DMW Records.
His 2023 album Timeless earned him three Grammy nominations, his first in that category.
Who is Davido?
Davido is a Nigerian-American Afrobeats superstar whose music blends Yoruba rhythms, global pop, and Amapiano influences.
Born in Atlanta but raised in Lagos, he carries both American and Nigerian citizenship and presents Nigeria as the cultural heart of his music.
He founded Davido Music Worldwide, known as DMW, in April 2016, using it to sign and develop artists including Mayorkun, Peruzzi, Dremo, and Morravey. In 2024, he launched a second label, Nine+ Records, in partnership with UnitedMasters.
Davido is also known by the name OBO, short for Omo Baba Olowo, the title of his debut album. He leads a fan community he calls the 30 Billion Gang, a reference to his early claim of having accumulated 30 billion naira in earnings.
His career spans over 15 years, six studio albums, and collaborations with artists including Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Nas, Omah Lay, Victoria Monet, Becky G, and Skepta.
Early Life of Davido
Davido was born into the prominent Adeleke family of Ede, Osun State, Nigeria, though his birth took place in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. His father, Adedeji Adeleke, is a Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist.
His mother, Veronica Imade Adeleke, worked as a university lecturer before she passed away in March 2003, when Davido was a child.
Growing up, Davido split his time between Lagos and Atlanta, attending the British International School in Lagos during his formative years and traveling to the United States during holidays.
He is the youngest of five siblings and has a close relationship with cousins B-Red and Sina Rambo, who would later become early musical collaborators.
Davido has spoken publicly about how much his mother’s memory matters to him. She was a music enthusiast, and several accounts of his family history note that he inherited his love for music from her.
Davido Age
Davido is 33 years old as of 2026, born on November 21, 1992. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He released his debut single “Back When” in May 2011 at age 18, launching one of Afrobeats’ most successful careers.
Davido Ethnicity and Nationality
Davido holds both Nigerian and American citizenship. His ethnicity is Yoruba on his father’s side, with his father’s family hailing from Ede, Osun State.
He also has Igbo heritage from his paternal grandmother and Edo heritage from his late mother, who came from Benin City.
Davido Height and Weight
Davido stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall, which is approximately 1.68 meters. His weight is reported at around 154 lbs, or 70 kg.
He carries a slim build and maintains an energetic, high-energy stage presence across his concert performances.
Davido Musical Style and Influences
Davido’s music draws from Afrobeats, Amapiano, highlife, dancehall, and Afropop traditions. His sound blends percussion-heavy production with melodic vocals, often shifting between English and Yoruba lyrics.
His collaborations span African, American, and British artists, reflecting a deliberately global approach to Afrobeats. Songs like “Unavailable” with South African producer Musa Keys and “Fall,” one of the longest-charting Nigerian pop songs on the Billboard Hot 100, show that range clearly.
He cites his diverse upbringing across Lagos and Atlanta as a key influence on his creative output.
Davido Education
Davido attended the British International School in Lagos during his secondary school years. He later enrolled at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, to study business administration.
While at Oakwood, he began producing beats and recording music with cousins B-Red and Sina Rambo under the group name KB International.
He dropped out of Oakwood to pursue music full-time. After returning to Nigeria in 2011, he honored his father’s request by enrolling at Babcock University in Ogun State.
In July 2015, he graduated from Babcock with a music degree, after the university established a music department with his father’s support.
Davido Career
Davido built his career methodically, starting from university performances in Nigeria to headlining shows at Madison Square Garden and the O2 Arena in London.
His career arc reflects one of the most sustained runs in African music history.
Early Career and Debut Breakthrough
Davido released his debut single “Back When,” featuring Naeto C, in May 2011. The song introduced him to Nigerian audiences and demonstrated his instinct for melodic Afrobeats production.
His real breakthrough came with “Dami Duro,” released in 2012 as the lead single from his debut album Omo Baba Olowo. The track became one of the biggest Nigerian songs of that year and turned Davido into a household name across the continent. Omo Baba Olowo went on to win Best R&B/Pop Album at the 2013 Headies Awards and earned him the Next Rated Artist award at the 2012 Headies.
The album spawned six other singles including “Ekuro,” “Back When,” and “All of You.”
From 2013 to 2015, he maintained a steady run of hits including “Gobe,” “Skelewu,” “Aye,” and “One of a Kind.” He also composed tracks for Tiwa Savage, Naeto C, Skales, and Sauce Kid during this period.
He signed a contract with Sony Music and RCA Records in July 2016, the same year he launched DMW.
Global Expansion and Billboard Success
Davido released the singles “If” and “Fall” in 2017. “Fall” became one of the longest-charting Nigerian pop songs in Billboard Hot 100 history and pushed Afrobeats further into international pop conversations.
His third album A Good Time arrived in 2019, followed by A Better Time in 2020. A Better Time featured collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Nas, and Chris Brown, and cracked the Billboard 200 chart. He performed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, one of the largest stages in sports entertainment.
“Blow My Mind,” his 2019 collaboration with Chris Brown, reached one million YouTube views in 11 hours, setting a record for Nigerian music videos at the time.
Timeless, Grammy Nominations, and Recent Albums
Davido released Timeless on March 31, 2023, through DMW, Columbia Records, and Sony Music. The album received positive critical reviews and topped the charts in Nigeria while entering the Top 40 of the Billboard 200.
“Unavailable,” the album’s lead single featuring South African producer Musa Keys, became a viral hit. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart and spawned a major TikTok dance challenge.
At the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, Davido received his first-ever Grammy nominations: Best Global Music Album for Timeless, Best African Music Performance for “Unavailable,” and Best Global Music Performance for “Feel.”
His fifth studio album, 5ive, followed on April 18, 2025, through DMW, Columbia Records, and Sony Music. The 17-track project featured collaborations with Chris Brown, Omah Lay, Victoria Monet, Becky G, Shenseea, and YG Marley.
“With You,” his duet with Omah Lay, topped Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100 and reached number four on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart. 5ive peaked at number two on the Billboard World Albums chart.
In 2026, Davido debuted at Coachella and appeared on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 soundtrack alongside Major Lazer and Nelly Furtado.
He announced his sixth studio album, Oriade, set for release on July 31, 2026, with features from Black Sherif, Mayorkun, Leon Thomas, and Aya Nakamura.
Davido Discography
- Omo Baba Olowo (2012)
- A Good Time (2019)
- A Better Time (2020)
- Timeless (2023)
- 5ive (2025)
- Oriade (2026)
Davido Awards and Recognition
He won the Next Rated Artist award at the 2012 Headies Awards and Best R&B/Pop Album for Omo Baba Olowo at the 2013 Headies.
He has won multiple awards at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, the MTV Africa Music Awards, the BET Hip Hop Awards, and the AFRIMMA Awards over the course of his career.
At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024, he received three nominations, becoming the first-ever nominee in the Best African Music Performance category alongside Tyla, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and ASAKE.
In January 2024, he received three nominations for the 55th NAACP Image Awards. His song “Kante” from Timeless appeared on King Charles III’s 2025 Commonwealth Day playlist.
Davido Tours and Concerts
Davido has toured across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia throughout his career. The Timeless North American Tour launched in July 2023.
He sold out multiple nights at Baltimore’s Lyric Theatre and performed at New York City’s Beacon Theatre during that run.
He headlined a sold-out show at the O2 Arena in London, one of the world’s largest entertainment venues. His 30 Billion Concert in Lagos drew tens of thousands of attendees.
In 2026, his Coachella debut marked another milestone in his international touring profile.
Davido Wife
Davido is married to Chioma Avril Rowland, known publicly as Chef Chi, a chef and social media influencer from Owerri, Imo State. The couple confirmed their marriage in March 2023 and held a lavish traditional and white wedding ceremony in Lagos in June 2024.
Chioma and Davido had been engaged since 2019, when Davido gifted her a Porsche and later proposed publicly. Their relationship produced a son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, who tragically drowned in October 2022 at the age of three.
The family observed a period of mourning before Davido returned to the public with the release of Timeless in March 2023.
In October 2023, Davido and Chioma welcomed twins. The twins were born in the United States, and their names have not been publicly shared as of 2026.
Davido Children
Davido has five living children across three relationships. His eldest daughter, Imade Aurora Adeleke, was born on May 14, 2015, to Nigerian model Sophia Ajibola Momodu.
His second daughter, Hailey Veronica Adeleke, was born on May 9, 2017, to US-based model Amanda Brown. Davido’s son Dawson Noe Adeleke was born to Larissa London, a UK-based makeup artist.
With Chioma, Davido had a son, Ifeanyi, who passed away in 2022. The couple’s twins, born in October 2023, are his most recent children. He attended Imade’s 10th birthday celebration in Miami, Florida, in June 2025.
Davido Net Worth
Davido’s estimated net worth is $100 million as of 2026. His net worth makes him one of the wealthiest musicians in Africa.
His income comes from music royalties, streaming revenue across Spotify and Apple Music, and concert touring, with individual performances reported to command fees of $500,000 or more.
Brand endorsements add substantially to his earnings; verified partnerships include deals with Puma, Martell Cognac, Infinix, and Oraimo.
He founded DMW Records in 2016 and Nine+ Records in 2024, both of which generate label revenues alongside his personal income.
Davido owns a Bombardier Global private jet, which he confirmed on social media. His primary residence is a mansion in Banana Island, Lagos, one of Nigeria’s most exclusive addresses. He also owns a property in Atlanta, Georgia.
His car collection includes a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a Lamborghini Aventador, a Bentley Bentayga, and a Mercedes-AMG G63, among others.
Davido Social Media
Davido is active across all major platforms. On Instagram, he posts under @davido, sharing music updates, personal moments, and promotional content.
His X (formerly Twitter) handle is also @davido, where he announced his three Grammy nominations in November 2023.
His official YouTube channel, Davido, carries music videos and concert footage and has accumulated billions of total views.
The Bottom Line
Davido earned three Grammy nominations at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024, including Best Global Music Album for Timeless, which put his music on the Grammy Awards stage for the first time in his 15-year career.
Born in Atlanta to a Nigerian billionaire father, he built his career in Lagos and grew it into a global Afrobeats institution, signing artists, running two record labels, and performing at venues from the O2 Arena to Coachella.
His sixth studio album, Oriade, was released on July 31, 2026, marking exactly 15 years since he launched his professional music career with his debut single in 2011.
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