David Adedeji Adeleke known on stage as Davido, is an American-born Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer.
| Real Name | David Adedeji Adeleke |
| Stage Name | Davido |
| Date of Birth | 21 November 1992 |
| Age | 32 years (As of 2024) |
| Place of Birth | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Osun State |
| Education | Babcock University, Oakwood University |
| Profession | Musician |
| Record Label | DMW, Sony Music |
| Previous Label | HKN |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Chioma Avril Rowland (m 2022) |
| Children | 5 |
| Height | 5 foot 6 inches (5’6) |
| Music Genres | Afrobeats, Afropop, pop |
| Years Active | 2009 – present |
| Related Acts | Wizkid, Burna Boy, Don Jazzy |
Biography
Davido whose birth name is David Adedeji Adeleke was born on November 21, 1992, in Atlanta Georgia.
Despite being born in the United States, David spent much of his early life in Lagos, Nigeria.
Growing up as the youngest child of Nigerian Billionaire, Adedeji Adeleke, his affluent family background provided him with opportunities that would ultimately lead him to become one of the richest singers in Nigeria.
Davido’s love for music grew stronger at Oakwood University in Alabama, where he enrolled to study Business Administration.
He discovered his passion for music, which eventually led him to drop out of college to pursue a career in the music industry.
Education
Davido had the privilege of receiving the best education available due to his parents’ wealth.
He completed his elementary and secondary education at the British International School in Lagos.
For his university education, he pursued Business Management at Oakwood University, Alabama, before dropping out to focus entirely on his music career.
Later, he decided to return to academics upon his father’s advice.
In 2011, he enrolled at Babcock University in Ogun State for a degree in music and graduated in 2015.
His father had paid the university to start a music department for the inaugural class of one.
After some years, photos of Davido serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) emerged online, showing his dedication to his country.
Family
David was born into a wealthy and influential family of six.
His father is Adedeji Adeleke, a prominent Nigerian billionaire businessman, and his mother, Veronica Adeleke, was a respected university lecturer before she passed away in 2002.
He is the second son of his parents and the youngest of five siblings, which include Sharon Adeleke, Adewale Adeleke, and Ashley Adeleke.
His elder brother, Adewale Adeleke, is a serial entrepreneur and among his many successful business ventures, he also co-founded the HKN Music Label alongside Davido.
Music Career
Davido discovered his love for music and started singing when he was 19 years old while studying at Oakwood University in Alabama.
In 2011, he moved to Nigeria and quickly caught the attention of fans with his debut single “Back When” featuring Nigerian rapper Naeto C.
This marked the beginning of his rise to fame in the Nigerian music scene.
His second single ‘Dami Duro‘, became a chart-topping success, and made his music debut as a member of the music group KB International.
2017 was an incredible year for the singer, as he released the top-charting songs “If” and “Fall“.
Both songs became instant global hits, with “Fall” even becoming the longest-charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history.
Discography
Davido released his debut studio album, Omo Baba Olowo, in 2012.
The album included top singles like Dami Duro, Ekuro, Coolest Kid in Africa, Overseas, and Back When.
The album was a commercial success and even won the Best Album of the Year (R&B/Pop) at the Headies Awards in 2013.
In November 2019, Davido released his second studio album “A Good Time” and his third album “A Better Time” was released in November of the following year.
In 2023, Davido released his fourth studio album, Timeless, through his record label DMW, Columbia Records, and Sony Music Entertainment.
The album featured collaborations with top artists like Skepta, Asake, Focalistic, The Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo, and others.
It earned him a nomination for Best Global Album at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
One of the album’s hit songs, “Unavailable” featuring Musa Keys, became a global sensation and also earned him a Grammy nomination for Best African Performance.
Omo Baba Olowo’s journey from a young artist with a passion for music to one of the best artists in Nigeria is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
Record Label
In 2016 OBO signed a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment
After exiting his previous record label HKN, Davido went on to create his own record label called Davido Music Worldwide DMW on 18 April 2016.
DMW would later sign a record deal with Peruzzi and Mayorkun among others
Achievements/Awards
David has achieved considerable success in the music industry, earning numerous awards and accolades.
Below is a list of major music awards won by Davido:
- Ghana Music Awards (1)
- “Hottest Single of the Year” and “Best Music Video” Nigeria Entertainment Awards (2)
- “Most Gifted Newcomer” and “Most Gifted Afro Pop” Channel O Music Video Awards (1)
- City People Entertainment Awards (1)
- 4Syte TV Music Video Awards (2)
- Kora Awards (1)
- “Next Rated” in 2012 and “Artiste of the Year” in 2014 Headies Awards (2)
- MTV Africa Music Awards (2)
- “Best International Act” BET Awards (2)
- “Artiste of the Year” African Muzik Magazine Awards (2)
- “Best African Act” MOBO Awards (1)
- The Future Africa Awards (1)
- MTV Europe Music Awards (2)
Personal Life
The 31-year-old singer has been in the music industry for over a decade with a very eventful and controversy-surrounded lifestyle.
Age
Born on 21st November 1992, Davido is currently 32 years old as of 2024
Wife
Davido is married to his lovely wife, Chioma Rowland aka Chefchi, they have been together for over 9 years now.
They met back in 2013 and started dating two years later in 2015, they made their relationship public in 2017.
Davido’s love for Chioma is evident in the way he introduced her to the world.
He wrote a beautiful song for her and even had her star in the music video for his hit song “Assurance.”
In 2019, they gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and named him Ifeanyi Adeleke.
Their love story has not been without its ups and downs, as there have been rumors of infidelity and strained dynamics.
The couple even got engaged at some point but later called it off.
During their break, there were rumors that Chefchi was dating a very wealthy mystery man, but it’s unclear whether or not the rumors were true.
Thankfully, Davido and Chefchi reconciled in 2022 and officially tied the knot in 2023.
Children
Davido has 6 children (1 deceased), from 3 different women.
His first child, Aurora Imade Adeleke was born in 2015 to Davido by Sophia Momodu while he was still in his early twenties.
In 2020, OBO welcomed his second child, Hailey Adeleke who lives in Atlanta with her mother Laplubelle Amanda.
He had his third child Dawson Adeleke who is his first son with popular UK makeup artist, Larissa London.
His fourth child and second son Ifeanyi Adeleke tragically passed away at the tender age of 3.
Recently, Davido’s wife Chioma gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl.
Death of his Son
Sadly, Davido’s son Ifeanyi Adeleke died on November 1st, 2022, just a few days after celebrating his third birthday.
The three-year-old drowned in a swimming pool at his father’s Banana Island residence.
Height
Davido is 5ft 6 inches tall
Social Media and Contact
Davido has a large following on all social media platforms and he’s also very active on them.
If you want to follow him on social media, see below for his handles:
Understandably, many people would love to reach out to Davido privately.
You may need his real contact details to express your admiration or work with the singer on a project.
However, obtaining his personal number or WhatsApp number is almost impossible.
For inquiries or collaboration requests, consider reaching out to his management by visiting his official website.
Remember that sending a straightforward and professional message is the best way to get him to interact with you.
