David Adedeji Adeleke, known around the world as Davido, is one of the most influential Afrobeats musicians of his generation. Born on November 21, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Davido turned a wealthy family name into a global music empire built on talent, relentless touring, and hit after hit. Nicknamed OBO — short for Omo Baba Olowo, the title of his debut album — he has sold out London’s O2 Arena and New York’s Madison Square Garden, earned Grammy nominations, and carried Nigerian pop to audiences on every continent.
Biography & Early Life
Davido is the youngest of five children born to Adedeji Adeleke, a Nigerian business magnate, and the late Veronica Adeleke, a university lecturer who died in 2003 when he was ten years old. The Adeleke family hails from Osun State in southwestern Nigeria, and Davido spent most of his childhood in Lagos, where he attended the British International School. At sixteen he moved back to the United States to study business administration at Oakwood University in Alabama. There, alongside his cousins B-Red and Sina Rambo, he formed the music group KB International and began producing beats instead of attending classes. He eventually dropped out to pursue music full time, relocating to London to work on his vocals. After returning to Nigeria in 2011, he honored a promise to his father by enrolling at Babcock University, graduating in 2015 with a degree in music. His uncle, Ademola Adeleke, is the governor of Osun State, making the Adeleke family one of the most prominent in the state.
Music Career
Davido began releasing music professionally in 2011, starting with the Naeto C-assisted single ‘Back When’. His breakthrough arrived months later with ‘Dami Duro’, a nationwide anthem that announced him as the loudest new voice in Nigerian pop. His debut album, Omo Baba Olowo (2012), won him the Headies Next Rated award that same year. Between 2013 and 2015 he kept the hits coming with ‘Gobe’, ‘Skelewu’, ‘Aye’ and ‘Owo Ni Koko’, building a catalogue that dominated parties across Africa and the diaspora. In January 2016 he signed a record deal with Sony Music and founded his own label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), which has launched artists including Mayorkun and Peruzzi. A five-track EP, Son of Mercy, followed in 2016. The year 2017 changed everything: ‘If’ and ‘Fall’ both became global hits, with ‘Fall’ setting the record as the longest-charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history and earning platinum certification in the United States. In 2018 he won Best International Act at the BET Awards — the first African artist to receive the award on the main stage — and in January 2019 he sold out London’s O2 Arena. His second album, A Good Time (2019), included the Chris Brown-assisted ‘Blow My Mind’, while A Better Time followed in 2020. After appearing on Time’s 100 Next list in 2021 and performing ‘Hayya Hayya’ at the 2022 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony, he returned with Timeless in March 2023, powered by the global hit ‘Unavailable’ featuring Musa Keys. The album brought him three Grammy nominations at the 2024 awards. His fifth studio album, 5ive, arrived in 2025, and he is spending 2026 on his 5IVE Alive world tour, with his single ‘With You’ featuring Omah Lay nominated for Best African Music Performance at the 2026 Grammys.
Net Worth & Income
Davido’s net worth is estimated at $35 million (approx. ₦47 billion), placing him among the richest musicians in Africa. The bulk of his income comes from touring — his world tours routinely sell out arenas in Europe and North America — and from streaming, where he has joined the billion-streams club on Spotify. Endorsement deals with major brands, including his early MTN Nigeria partnership, add to his earnings, while DMW and his joint-venture label Nine+ Records with United Masters give him ownership stakes beyond performing. His collection of luxury cars and homes in Lagos and Atlanta is widely documented.
Personal Life & Family
Davido married Chioma Rowland Adeleke in 2023. He is a father of five living children, including twins born to him and Chioma in 2023. His son Ifeanyi, born in 2019, died tragically in October 2022, a loss that prompted an outpouring of support across Nigeria and inspired the reflective themes of Timeless. Despite his fame, Davido remains closely tied to his family, frequently appearing alongside his father and siblings at public events and charitable causes.
Last updated: October 2026
