Veteran Nigerian highlife musician Bright Chimezie has expressed deep pride after Afrobeats superstar Davido revealed he drew inspiration from his classic hit Because Of English for the song With You, featuring Omah Lay.
Speaking in an interview with Hip TV, Chimezie—who made a cameo appearance in the newly released music video for With You—shared his surprise and delight at the revelation. According to the music legend, he wasn’t aware of the connection until Davido personally reached out to tell him.
“Words cannot describe how I feel. I’m so delighted. I feel honoured, and I’m grateful to Davido for recognising that he drew inspiration from me,” Chimezie said.
“I didn’t even know With You was inspired by Because Of English until Davido told me himself. He called and explained everything. The humility and sincerity he showed—it made me so happy.”
Chimezie, who recently signed a publishing deal with Sony Music, also emphasized that he remains active in the music industry. However, he noted that veteran artists like himself have intentionally stepped back to give younger talents room to shine.
“We took the back seat so the younger ones could thrive. But we’re still here, still making music.”
Davido’s gesture has not only reignited appreciation for Chimezie’s contributions to Nigerian music but also highlighted the powerful intergenerational links shaping Afrobeats today.
