Davido Credits D’banj as First Nigerian Artist to Achieve Global Fame

Afrobeats star Davido has praised fellow musician D’banj, claiming he was the first Nigerian artist to gain international stardom. In a recent interview with Apple Music, Davido highlighted the impact of D’banj’s 2012 hit single Oliver Twist, noting it as a turning point for Nigerian and African artists in the global music scene.

“D’banj was my first vision of a Nigerian artist taking over the world,” Davido remarked. He explained that before Oliver Twist, Nigerian musicians rarely received international bookings. The song’s global success, especially with its viral music video featuring Kanye West, helped pave the way for African artists to be recognized in the West.

Davido noted that following Oliver Twist, artists like D’banj, 2Baba, and P-Square started booking major international shows, with fees reaching up to $1 million per performance. This, he said, inspired him to fully embrace African music.

While D’banj’s role in popularizing Afrobeats is undeniable, some music observers have pointed out that Nigerian legends like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Majek Fashek had already made names for themselves internationally decades earlier. Additionally, 2Baba’s African Queen had won multiple international awards and was featured in the 2006 American film Phat Girlz long before D’banj’s Oliver Twist gained traction.

The debate surrounding who was the first Nigerian to achieve global fame continues, but there is no denying D’banj’s contribution to the rise of Afrobeats on the world stage.