Globally renowned Afrobeats artiste, David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has opened up about a time in his youth when Nigerian security agencies launched a nationwide search for him, following his decision to pursue music against his family’s wishes.
In an interview on the American podcast Bagfuel Brigade, Davido recalled secretly setting up a music studio in his father’s 16-bedroom mansion in Nigeria.
This was after the passing of his mother, and while his siblings were studying abroad. Despite living with his billionaire father, Deji Adeleke, the young artist was determined to follow his musical passion, which he kept hidden from his family at the time.
“I was living alone with my dad in a 16-bedroom mansion because all my siblings were in America. I had a studio in the house and he didn’t know. A complete studio where I spent most of my time making music and smoking,” Davido shared.
Eventually, Davido became tired of hiding his passion and decided to leave for London to stay with a producer friend for six months, further deepening his commitment to his music career. His disappearance sparked a massive search back home, with Nigerian security agencies, including the army, immigration officers, and the police, on high alert, all searching for Dr. Deji Adeleke’s son.
“I left the mansion for about six months. My dad was looking for me, the army, immigration officers, every security agency in Nigeria was looking for Dr. Deji Adeleke’s son, which is me,” he revealed.
The young artist was eventually caught at the airport while returning to Nigeria. Despite not planning to return home, Davido’s plans were interrupted when he was intercepted by an army officer who escorted him to his waiting father and a group of uniformed men.
“When I returned to Nigeria, I wasn’t planning to go home. I landed at the airport with the intention to go to a friend’s place — but the moment I stepped out, an army officer walked up to me and escorted me outside. Waiting there were uniformed men and my dad,” Davido said.
To his surprise, his father did not scold him for his actions but instead embraced him with open arms. “I thought my dad would scold me, but instead, he hugged me. He was happy to see me.”
