VIDEO: I always knew I’d succeed, says Davido

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Davido, known for his Grammy nominations, has revealed a profound and unwavering self-belief that he says bordered on "delusional confidence" throughout his music career. The singer, born David Adeleke, stated that he never experienced doubt about his eventual success, even in the early stages before any significant achievements.

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Funny enough, I never doubted myself. I was so confident that it was crazy, like delusional confidence.

"Funny enough, I never doubted myself. I was so confident that it was crazy, like delusional confidence," Davido shared in an interview with Doseofsociety, posted on Instagram. He explained that his certainty was not based on guarantees but on a combination of faith, innate talent, and a relentless work ethic. "I just knew it was going to work out. Like, I didn’t know how. All I knew is I had God. I had talent. I knew I was very hardworking. I knew I was ready to have sleepless nights just to, you know, get to that pinnacle."

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I just knew it was going to work out. Like, I didn’t know how. All I knew is I had God. I had talent. I knew I was very hardworking. I knew I was ready to have sleepless nights just to, you know, get to that pinnacle.

Davido recalled leaving his family home with a firm resolve not to return until he had made a name for himself in the music industry. This decision came despite familial expectations for him to pursue formal education, a path followed by his siblings. "All my siblings had gone to school, done the right thing. And I was just feeling like, why did it have to be me? I remember when I left home, I was like, before I go back home, I have to go back home successful. I’m not going back home without being the David like this."

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All my siblings had gone to school, done the right thing. And I was just feeling like, why did it have to be me? I remember when I left home, I was like, before I go back home, I have to go back home successful. I’m not going back home without being the David like this.

Reflecting on his journey, the artist now places greater importance on the support of his inner circle. He mentioned that while some people around him may not have been entirely sure of his path initially, their current validation, particularly from his family, means more to him than any external approval. "Validation from people around me that, I wouldn’t say didn’t believe, but wasn’t as sure that, you know, this was going to work out. When I’m at home, you know, with family and they’re around, I just see them smiling at me like, yo, that validation for me is all I need. I don’t need anybody else’s validation."

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When I’m at home, you know, with family and they’re around, I just see them smiling at me like, yo, that validation for me is all I need. I don’t need anybody else’s validation.