Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reflected on the transformation of Nigeria’s music industry, saying the genre has become more financially rewarding but less socially connected among artistes.
Davido made the observation during a recent appearance on the ‘Uncut Podcast’, where he compared the atmosphere within the Nigerian music scene during the early years of his career to what exists today.
According to the singer, artistes were more closely connected in the early 2010s, with musicians frequently spending time together and supporting one another in the studio.
He recalled the period when he recorded his breakthrough song, “Dami Duro,” saying artistes such as Wande Coal and others were around during the recording sessions.
“When I recorded ‘Dami Duro,’ Wande Coal and a lot of artistes were in the studio with me, but now there is no such thing anymore,” Davido said.
He believes the situation began to change as Afrobeats gained international attention and generated more money for artistes.
“Financially, it is a great time doing Afrobeats, but the relationship amongst artistes has deepened,” he said.
Davido further recalled that between 2012 and 2013, artistes regularly socialised with one another, unlike what he sees in the industry today.
“Between 2012 and 2013, we artistes used to hang out with each other, but now everyone is on their own,” he added.
While acknowledging the financial progress of the genre, Davido suggested that its growth has also changed the relationships between artistes, with the sense of community he experienced early in his career becoming less common.
For Davido, Afrobeats may be making more money than ever, but the industry is not as close-knit as it used to be.
