- Afrobeats star Davido has credited fellow Nigerian musician D’banj with being the first to achieve international fame, paving the way for others in the industry.
In an interview with Apple Music, Davido explained that before D’banj’s 2012 hit song *Oliver Twist*, Nigerian artists were not getting booked for shows abroad. He said the success of the song, which featured American rapper Kanye West in its music video, marked a turning point for African music in the global market.
“D’banj was the first Nigerian artist I saw take over the world,” Davido said. “No one in America was booking Nigerian artists, but after *Oliver Twist*, that changed. Artists like D’banj, 2Face, and P-Square started getting shows overseas, making up to $1 million per performance.”
Davido added that seeing D’banj’s success inspired him to focus on African music, which ultimately shaped his career trajectory.
