VIDEO: Afrobeats more lucrative now, but artistes are no longer united — Davido

Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has lamented the decline in unity among artists within the industry. Known as David Adeleke, the musician made these remarks during a recent episode of the Uncut Podcast, which gained traction on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. Reflecting on the state of the Nigerian music scene, Davido stated that while Afrobeats is currently more lucrative, the relationships among artists have deteriorated significantly.

Davido noted that the period between 2012 and 2013 was one of the most united eras in the industry, with artists frequently spending time together, collaborating, and supporting one another. He recalled, "Financially, it is a great time doing Afrobeats, but the relationship amongst artists is a failure." During that time, he explained, "Everybody was big – we all used to hang out."

As the genre's success and wealth grew, Davido observed that the dynamics within the industry also changed. He said, "Everybody just got too big." He reminisced about the time he recorded his 2011 hit song "Dami Duro" in the studio, where he noted the presence of several other artists, including Wande Coal, Shank, and Bigiano. He added, "When I recorded 'Dami Duro', in the studio was Wande Coal, Shank, Bigiano. They were artists there. We was always in together."

However, Davido admitted that this camaraderie of the past has largely disappeared, with artists now more likely to operate independently. He concluded, "And then now everybody dey find their own."