Afrobeats superstar Davido is taking a moment to reflect on just how far the sound of Africa has come — and he’s reminding the world that this movement is much bigger than music.
In a new interview with MixMag, the “Unavailable” hitmaker opened up about Afrobeats’ meteoric rise, tracing the genre’s journey from the streets of Lagos to the world’s biggest stages. For Davido, the evolution of Afrobeats is not just about chart-topping hits — it’s about cultural representation and reshaping the global narrative around being African.
“We have to be very cautious and understand that it’s way bigger than us now,” Davido said.
“We’re representing a whole demographic of people. The culture as a whole, and Afrobeats, have come and changed the mindset about being African.”
From humble beginnings to global dominance, Davido recalls a time when the music industry didn’t take Afrobeats seriously. After signing with Sony, he remembered trying to convince executives that a storm was coming:
“This Afrobeats is coming o. We’re going to be the biggest, we’re going to be the hottest,” he told them.
“Then, they were looking at me like I was crazy. Now look at them rushing to Nigeria to sign every Tom, Dick, and Harry.”
Fast forward to today — and the proof is everywhere. Afrobeats is headlining major festivals, dominating international charts, and influencing sounds across genres. With pioneers like Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid leading the charge, African music isn’t just having a moment — it’s building a legacy.
The movement is no longer just a niche export — it’s a global cultural force, and Davido is proud to have been one of the voices that saw the vision from the start.
