Davido Sparks Debate, Claims D’banj Was First Nigerian Musician to Achieve Global Stardom

Image: DP

Afrobeats sensation Davido has stirred conversations with his claim that fellow Nigerian artist D'banj was the first to achieve global fame. In a recent interview with Apple Music, Davido credited D'banj's 2012 hit single 'Oliver Twist' for opening the doors to international bookings for Nigerian artists.

According to Davido, before D'banj's success, Nigerian musicians were rarely booked for international shows. He emphasized how the inclusion of Kanye West in the 'Oliver Twist' music video marked a turning point for Afrobeats on the global stage.

“D’banj was my first vision of a Nigerian artist taking over the world,” Davido explained, adding that artists like 2Face and P-Square started making around $1 million per show following D’banj’s breakthrough.

However, Davido's claim has sparked debate. Critics argue that Nigerian music legends such as Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Majek Fashek had already achieved international fame decades earlier.

Furthermore, 2Baba’s hit song 'African Queen' was internationally recognized and used as a soundtrack for the American movie 'Phat Girlz' in 2006, predating 'Oliver Twist'.

While D'banj undeniably contributed to the global rise of Afrobeats, many believe the genre's global journey started long before his success, with earlier pioneers paving the way for today's artists.

Source: DP

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