Afrobeats superstar Davido has honored veteran musician D’banj for his groundbreaking role in bringing Nigerian music to the global stage.
During an interview with Apple Music, Davido shared how D’banj’s 2012 hit single Oliver Twist played a key role in his decision to embrace African music and focus on his cultural roots.
“D’banj was my first vision of a Nigerian artist taking over the world,” Davido explained. “At the time, no one in America was booking Nigerian artists for shows, but that changed after I saw Kanye West in D’banj’s Oliver Twist video on YouTube.”
Davido also credited D’banj for opening doors for Nigerian artists globally. “Because of the success of Oliver Twist, Americans started booking D’banj, 2Face, P-Square, and other African artists. They were making about $1,000,000 per show,” Davido revealed.
The influence of D’banj’s international success marked a turning point in Davido’s career. “I realized that this was the path I needed to take, so I switched and started focusing on African music because that’s where I come from,” he said.
Davido’s heartfelt tribute underscores D’banj’s immense contribution to the international rise of Afrobeats, paving the way for future generations of Nigerian artists to shine on the world stage. With Oliver Twist, D’banj cemented his legacy as a trailblazer, helping to shape the global success of African music.
