Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reflected on the dramatic changes in Nigeria’s music industry, saying the genre’s financial growth has come at the expense of relationships among artists.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Uncut Podcast, the singer acknowledged that Afrobeats has become significantly more profitable as its global audience and commercial reach have expanded.
However, he expressed disappointment over what he described as a decline in camaraderie among artists.
Davido recalled the early years of his career, particularly the period around 2012 and 2013, when leading musicians regularly spent time together and collaborated informally.
He pointed to the recording of his breakout song, Dami Duro, as an example of the closeness that existed among artists at the time.
According to the singer, Wande Coal and several other musicians were present in the studio during the period he recorded the song.
He contrasted that era with the current industry, where, in his view, artists are more separated and competition has become more intense.
“Financially, it is a great time doing Afrobeats, but the relationship amongst artists is a failure,” Davido said.
He attributed the shift partly to the growing wealth and international prominence of Afrobeats musicians.
As the genre has expanded into a major global music force, Davido suggested that rivalry has increasingly replaced the sense of community that characterised its earlier years.
The singer said the informal interactions and togetherness that once existed among artists are now less common.
“Between 2012-2013, we artists used to hang out with each other, but now everyone is on their own,” he said.
Davido’s comments highlight the contrast between Afrobeats’ growing commercial success and the changing dynamics among the musicians driving its international expansion.
While the genre continues to attract larger audiences and greater financial opportunities globally, the singer believes the industry has lost some of the sense of unity that existed during its earlier growth years.
