Nigeria Before the Fame: Davido Shares $200K Lesson From His Father

Davido opened up about how his father, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, paid $200,000 to terminate his first record contract when he was just 17. The move, he says, changed the course of his music career

• Davido signed a $200K record deal after dropping Dami Duro.
• His father refunded the full amount to cancel the deal.
• Davido says the contract would have lasted until 2023.
• He’s now preparing for his major 5 Alive world tour.

In a BET interview, Davido recalled how success came early—too early. Fresh off the popularity of Dami Duro, he was signed to a deal he didn’t fully understand. His father stepped in, repaid the $200K, and freed him from a commitment that might have delayed his rise. Looking back, Davido said, “Thank God he did.”

Davido’s gearing up for his 5 Alive tour, hitting major venues in the US, UK, and Canada—sharing stages with the likes of 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige. Not bad for someone almost stuck in the wrong deal.