By Olusegun Olanrewaju
For talented Nigerian music act, David Adedeji Adeleke, alias Davido, it is another rave-making moment.   Again, joy has come his way with a listing among the world’s topmost 100 influential people in 2020 by the American international news magazine, TIME.

This recognition represents another milestone for the robust Nigerian rapper, who was listed among prominent world leaders like German Chancellor, Angela Merkel; India’s Narandra Modi; China’s Xi Jinping; US Vice President, Kamala Harris, and top US lawmaker, Nancy Pelosi.

Sportsmen, entertainers, icons and activists such as Nigerian-born Greek basketballer, Giannis Antetokoumpo; Selena Gomez; Ali Wong, as well as the founders of ‘Black Lives Matter’, Alicia Garza; Patrisse Cullos, and Opal Toneti are among other personalities listed by the magazine.

“Proud to be included in the inaugural #TIME 100 NEXT list @ time’’, Davido declared on his social media handle on Wednesday.

Justifying the award, a post said, “Davido is one of the biggest voices in Afrobeat because his music connects with people, often in ways that transcend his expectations.  “When he released the song ‘FEM’ in 2020, a title that loosely translates to “Shut Up” in Yoruba, he didn’t know it would become a major #EndSARS protest anthem.

The effect
“Youths banded together to demand the government take action to end police brutality in Nigeria last October. Officials responded by sending politicians to give speeches. “We told the government to keep quiet unless they had something sensible to add to the ethos of ‘FEM’, which was directly relatable at that moment. “You can tell Davido puts 100 per cent into every song he makes. And the results are clear: his album, ‘A Good Time’, surpassed a billion streams in 2020.’’

Accolades
It is a harvest of accolades for the super star. “Afrobeat is a worldwide phenomenon and Davido is one of many Nigerian artists who has made that possible.

“More and more artists, from Nicki Minaj to Young Thug, want to work with him. Davido’s song ‘IF’, which recently sold 500,000 copies in the US, has been certified gold.

I Am LAYCON breaks streaming record in Nigeria

Awards
Davido is no stranger to plaudits and awards. His album, ‘IF’ got a gold certification in the US. The certification was done by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), according to the organisers. Davido’s manager, Asa Asika, the co-founder of The Plug, who broke the news, said the gold certification is used to commemorate a body of work or single for moving 500,000 or an equivalent of it, due to the streaming era.

‘IF’ was Davido’s second single to be certified gold in the US after another 2017 single, ‘Fall.’ Davido took to his twitter page to express gratitude to God for his most recent achievement.  Davido also had a good time when his long-awaited sophomore album, ‘A Good Time’, was released. He received very positive rave reviews from almost all corners of the music industry.

Triumphant
Davido celebrated when his other album, ‘A Better Time’ hit 100 million streams in three days.  The album was released on November 13, 2020, and has since garnered millions of views across Apple Music, Spotify, Boomplay, Audiomack, and Youtube, among other eminent platforms. A jubilant Davido announced the milestone on the social media: “100 million streams in 3 days” from Apple Music, Boomplay, Youtube, Spotify & Audiomack. Other DSP’s to report later today, let us keep streaming ABT. GOD BLESS EVERYONE”.

Fame and wealth
Apart from his wave-making exploits on the music scene, Davido is doing good in finance. He is rich, and he loves to flaunt that, maybe sometimes in a way that is considered offensive and disrespectful to his audience.  Recently, Nigerian billionaire and music mogul, King Power, ranked him among one of Africa’s wealthiest artistes. King Power, who took to his Instagram handle to share his intention, stated that he was set to sign Davido for a gigantic $100 million on his label.

‘Flaunting my wealth inspires people’
Davido, who was born on November 21, 1992 at Atlanta, Georgia, United States, is an American by nationality. According to him, he is unfazed by the criticisms he receives for flaunting his family’s wealth in a country that is battling high poverty levels.

Davido’s father, Adedeji Adeleke, owns a business conglomerate and a private university and jets. Davido recently shared a video of his father’s newly acquired, second private jet landing at a Nigerian airport and that incensed not a few. But he says that his public displays of wealth are intended to inspire people “and to show the world that Africans too live large.’’

“We’re not here to rub it in anybody’s face; we’re here to show motivation. Many kids write to me and tell me that I’m the reason they want to finish school, and projects, and become successful.

“In America, there are people who think we live in huts. Sometimes, I feel like I want to show them…We’re living the life, we’re going crazy, you feel me?

“It has nothing to do with showing off or trying to oppress anybody. They oppress us enough.”

‘Signed for $100m’
The revelation of his signing by King Power showcased Davido in the league of African artistes that is wealthy. In his post, King Power made it known that he was not in competition with anyone, but was only out “to change the face of the game, make history and leave a positive impact”.

Davido plays in the Nigerian big musical league with the likes of Burna Boy, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage. But he does not immediately react to King Power’s offer, leaving his fans in the lurch as to what he is cooking.

Observers, however, wondered why somebody would like to put so much as N36 billion on an artiste.

Living big
Popular American luxury jeweller, Ice Box Zahir, recently revealed that ‘superstar Nigerian singer and luxury lover Davido’, spends between N50m and N100m each time he visits his jewellery store in Atlanta, USA.

In an Instagram post, the American-celebrity jeweller revealed that Davido loves and spends so much on luxury fashion items, especially on diamond pieces, “it is, however, shocking that so much money goes down every time he takes a stop at Icebox’s store.’’

A life of awards
Perhaps, no entertainer in Nigeria’s history, and only a few in Africa could have garnered more recognition by way of awards than Davido. A compendium of the musician’s streak of awards, include Soul Train Awards, The Future Africa Awards, Kora Awards and BET Awards, among others.

In 2012, Davido, as a young musician, won the ‘Best Newcomer Award at the Kora Awards.

The year, 2014, was really one of bountiful honours for the African super star. He was nominated for the Best International Performance award for his ‘Aye’ song at Soul Train Awards. In the same year, at The Future Africa Award, Davido was voted for ‘African Young Person of the Year’.

At BET Awards, he won the ‘Best International Act: Africa award. At Ben TV awards, Davido was chosen for the ‘Best Male Artist’, ‘Best Collaboration’ (in Reminisces ‘Daddy) and ‘Best International Collaboration’ (with the ‘Number One’ remix, featuring with Diamond Platnumz).

Other awards followed in subsequent years, including the nomination for a Grammy in 2020.

Reactions to Davido’s selection

Perhaps the best came from BBNaija’s Laycon, who shared what he thinks about Davido’s appearance in the TIME.

Laycon described Davido as one of the biggest voices in Afrobeat “because people can relate to his music”.

Laycon was the one who said that ‘’Davido puts 100 per cent into every song he makes.’’

Controversies
Like all other celebrities, Africa’s super star, Davido is no stranger to the negative press, such as relationship with women and outrageous-sounding claims, like that of his cousin, B Red, who claimed that the star spends N1m yearly at the barber’s, among others.