Nigerian music sensation David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has shared his thoughts on his significant influence in the Afrobeats movement.
In an interview featured in TheBeatJuice magazine, the “Skelewu” hitmaker confidently stated, “Afrobeats can’t be brought up without my name. Impossible.”
As one of the most recognized figures in the genre alongside Wizkid and Burna Boy, Davido’s contributions have undeniably shaped the global rise of Afrobeats. However, he has previously expressed mixed feelings about the categorization of African music under the single label of Afrobeats.
During an appearance on the Business Untitled Podcast, Davido voiced his concerns about the way African artists are often confined to the Afrobeats genre, regardless of their individual styles.
“I prefer to call my music ‘afro-fusion,’ but I’m not offended by the Afrobeats label,” Davido explained. “We needed a genre to identify African music, whether it’s R&B, Afropop, or something else. I know how long it took for African music to break into the mainstream.”
While he embraces the success of Afrobeats and its impact on African music, Davido emphasizes the diversity within the industry, encouraging appreciation for the unique sounds each artist brings to the table.
