Afrobeats superstar Davido has paid tribute to veteran musician D’banj for his groundbreaking achievements in gaining international recognition for Nigerian music.
In an interview with Apple Music, Davido revealed that D’banj‘s 2012 hit single Oliver Twist inspired him to focus on African music and embrace his cultural heritage.
“D’banj was my first vision of a Nigerian artist taking over the world,” Davido said. “No one in America was booking Nigerian artists for shows, but that changed when I saw Kanye West in D’banj’s ‘Oliver Twist’ video on YouTube.”
Also, Davido credited D’banj’s pioneering success for opening doors for Nigerian artistes globally. “It was because of the success of ‘Oliver Twist’ that Americans started booking D’banj, 2Face, P-Square, and other African artists for shows. They were making about $1,000,000 per show.”
Additionally, Davido’s realization sparked a turning point in his career. “So I decided to switch and start doing African music because that’s where I am from,” he said.
Meanwhile, Davido’s acknowledgement highlights D’banj‘s significant contribution to putting Nigerian music on the global map, paving the way for future generations of artistes.
Lastly, with this tribute, Davido recognizes the legacy of D’banj and the impact of Oliver Twist on the international music scene. Notably, this cements D’banj’s status as a trailblazer in Afrobeats.