Davido Claims He Knew Maleek Berry Before Wizkid: ‘I’m the First Person to Know Him’
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has claimed that he knew British-Nigerian record producer Maleek Berry before his association with fellow singer Ayodeji Balogun, known as Wizkid.
Davido made the claim during an interview on the +44 Podcast, excerpts of which began circulating widely online on Friday.
Reflecting on his early days in London, the singer said Maleek Berry was among the people he knew after he left home and travelled to the United Kingdom.
“The first place I came to when I ran away from home is London. I was with Maleek Berry. Ask him, I’m the first person to know Maleek Berry,” Davido said.
Maleek Berry, whose real name is Maleek Shoyebi, is a British-Nigerian producer and singer who has worked with several leading African artistes.
His professional relationship with Wizkid has also been well documented, with the pair collaborating on music during the early stages of their careers.
Davido’s latest comments have drawn attention partly because of his long-running public rivalry with Wizkid, which has continued to fuel debate among their respective fan bases.
The rivalry between the two Afrobeats stars has persisted for more than a decade, with supporters of Davido and Wizkid frequently engaging in online exchanges over their careers, achievements and influence on African music.
Davido’s claim about when he first met Maleek Berry has not been independently verified from the comments alone.
