Nigerian singer Davido is currently one of the biggest global artists and among the most successful talents to emerge from Nigeria and Africa. With nearly 14 years of relentless work in the music industry, Davido recently shared in an interview with Kiss Fresh FM that, despite being just 31, the intensity of his career often makes him feel like he’s 60. Here’s what he had to say.
Speaking about music, and how he’s been able to do it for so long, Davido said:
DAVIDO: Everybody’s road is different. I came in just loving music. I didn’t need money, I didn’t need nothing. I came in just having a love for music and entertainment, and I knew I had something to offer the world. So I feel like that is why I just stayed at it and stayed at it. I have been doing this for a very long time. For like 13, 14 years, and I am not bored. I am not bored at all. I don’t think there is a retirement soon. For now, we are still going. We still have somewhere to get to, somewhere to go. And then after we are done, we will leave the blueprint for the people that come after us. And when they are done, they will leave the blueprint for those who come after them. I am just happy that at least we kicked in the door.
Then, speaking about how and why he feels 60 years old sometimes, Davido said:
DAVIDO: Six kids after. I’m a father. I’m a husband. Life has—I feel like I’m 60. If you calculate from my 17 years old to where I am now, what I have been through, the places I’ve been, my experiences, the people I’ve met, the people I know. It’s a lot.
Sometimes my joints ache. But we are grateful. A lot of people don’t have 14 years of impartment. It rarely happens like that. So to just have the opportunity to keep going, shoutout to my fans. It is them that keep me going everyday. It is the fans that put money in our pockets. It is the fans that are spreading the music, spreading the word. Making sure these festivals book us, put big money in our pockets.
So, the respect is there. And I think that is something that’s very important which is Africans now, the narrative has changed. The respect is there. Not only in music, but in fashion, in food. Everything.