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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

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

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • Afrobeats star Davido stated that while the genre is financially lucrative now, the unity among Nigerian artists has deteriorated.
  • He recalled the 2012-2013 period as a time of strong camaraderie, with artists frequently collaborating and supporting each other.
  • Davido attributes the current lack of unity to artists becoming more successful and independent, leading to a more fragmented industry.

Nigerian Afrobeats star David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, has expressed concern over the current state of unity within the Nigerian music industry. While acknowledging that Afrobeats enjoys greater financial success today than in its earlier years, Davido lamented a significant decline in the camaraderie and mutual support among artists.

Financially, it is a great time doing Afrobeats, but the relationship amongst artists is a failure.

— DavidoExpressing his view on the current state of the Afrobeats industry.

During a recent appearance on the Uncut Podcast, Davido reflected on the industry's evolution, contrasting the present with the period between 2012 and 2013. He described that era as one of the most united, where artists regularly interacted, collaborated, and offered each other support. "Financially, it is a great time doing Afrobeats, but the relationship amongst artists is a failure," Davido stated.

2012 to 2013, the industry was kind of together. Like, we all go out, we see ourselves, we all used to hang out.

— DavidoRecalling a period of strong unity among artists.

He elaborated on the shift, suggesting that the increasing success and wealth of Afrobeats artists have altered the industry's dynamics. "Everybody just got too big," he observed, implying that individual success has led to a more isolated approach. Davido recalled the collaborative atmosphere during the recording of his 2011 hit song "Dami Duro," mentioning the presence and interaction of artists like Wande Coal, Shank, and Bigiano in the studio.

Everybody just got too big.

— DavidoExplaining the perceived reason for the decline in artist unity.

"And then now everybody dey find their own," Davido remarked, highlighting the current trend of artists operating more independently. This contrasts sharply with the past, where he noted a stronger sense of community and shared experiences, suggesting that the genre's commercial growth has come at the cost of its internal cohesion.

And then now everybody dey find their own.

— DavidoDescribing the current independent approach of artists.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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