Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has raised concerns about the declining sense of unity among artistes in Nigeria’s music industry, despite the genre becoming significantly more lucrative and globally successful.
Davido made the remarks while reflecting on the evolution of Afrobeats, particularly the changes that have taken place since the early years of his career. According to the singer, the financial opportunities available to artistes today are far greater than they were more than a decade ago, but the relationships and camaraderie that once existed among musicians have weakened.
The singer’s comments have renewed discussions about competition, collaboration and the future of Afrobeats as the Nigerian-born genre continues to expand its influence across the global music industry.
Davido recalls earlier Afrobeats era
Davido recalled the period around 2012 and 2013, when Nigerian artistes were more closely connected and regularly spent time together in studios and social settings.
He cited the recording of his breakthrough song, “Dami Duro,” as an example of the atmosphere that existed at the time.
According to Davido, artistes such as Wande Coal and other prominent musicians were present during recording sessions, creating an environment where musicians could support and inspire one another.
He contrasted that period with the current situation, saying artistes are now more likely to operate independently.
The singer’s assessment reflects the dramatic transformation of Nigeria’s music industry over the past decade. Afrobeats has moved from being predominantly associated with African audiences to becoming a major global musical movement.
International collaborations, streaming platforms, global tours, endorsements and major festival appearances have created opportunities that were considerably less accessible to Nigerian artistes during the early stages of the genre’s international expansion.
Financial success has changed the industry
Davido acknowledged that Afrobeats is now a much more lucrative business.
The genre has attracted global audiences, record labels, brands and international artistes. Nigerian musicians now headline major concerts outside Africa, secure international endorsement agreements and collaborate with some of the biggest names in global music.
The Guardian previously reported that the international growth of Afrobeats had resulted in Nigerian stars such as Davido and Wizkid selling out major venues, while songs by Nigerian artistes increasingly reached audiences in the United States and United Kingdom.
Davido has himself benefited significantly from this transformation, building a global career through music, touring, partnerships and collaborations.
For the singer, therefore, the problem is not the financial growth of Afrobeats. Rather, it is what may have been lost along the way.
As competition for streams, awards, chart positions, endorsements and international recognition has intensified, relationships between some leading artistes have become more complicated.
Competition among the biggest stars
The relationship between Nigeria’s biggest male Afrobeats stars has frequently attracted public attention.
Davido, Burna Boy and Wizkid have often been placed at the centre of discussions about competition in Nigerian music, with disagreements, social-media exchanges and rivalry between their respective fan bases sometimes overshadowing the broader development of the genre.
In an earlier interview, Davido acknowledged that he no longer had a personal relationship with some of his fellow leading artistes but stressed that Afrobeats had grown beyond the so-called “Big 3.”
He has also previously argued that unity could help African music achieve even greater global success.
In a separate interview reported by The Independent, Davido said that for a relatively young genre such as Afrobeats to grow, artistes needed to be united.
His latest comments appear to reinforce that position.
Could collaboration make Afrobeats stronger?
The question of collaboration has become increasingly important as Afrobeats competes for a larger share of the international music market.
Davido has previously pointed to the collaborative nature of Latin music as an example of how artistes can collectively strengthen a genre.
Music executive Asa Asika, who manages Davido, also argued in 2025 that Afrobeats could have become even bigger globally if some of its leading artistes had collaborated more during the genre’s early international rise.
The argument is straightforward: when major artistes collaborate, they can combine fan bases, introduce listeners to different sounds and create cultural moments that benefit the wider industry.
Afrobeats has already demonstrated the power of such collaborations. Nigerian artistes have worked with international stars including Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran and others, helping expose African music to audiences beyond the continent.
At the same time, collaborations between African artistes themselves could potentially deepen the identity and reach of the genre.
Afrobeats has become a global force
The growth of Afrobeats is difficult to ignore.
Songs originating from Nigeria and other African countries now dominate playlists, international radio stations, clubs and streaming platforms across different parts of the world.
The genre has also produced a new generation of globally recognised stars, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tems, Rema, Asake, Ayra Starr and others.
The Recording Academy has described Davido as a standard-bearer of Afrobeats and recognised his contribution to the growth of African music through multiple Grammy nominations.
This expansion has created a much more competitive industry.
Artistes are no longer competing only for local popularity. They are competing for international streams, global tours, festival bookings, awards, brand partnerships and access to major markets.
That competition can encourage excellence, but it can also create divisions.
Davido’s message to the industry
Davido’s comments can therefore be interpreted as a call for Afrobeats artistes to find a balance between competition and cooperation.
There is nothing wrong with artistes pursuing individual success. Competition can push musicians to improve their craft and produce better music.
However, Davido appears concerned that personal rivalries could prevent the wider industry from reaching its full potential.
The singer has previously expressed admiration for greater unity among artistes in other music markets. He pointed to collaborations between leading Latin music stars as an example of what could happen when major artistes work together rather than allowing rivalry to dominate.
For Afrobeats, greater cooperation could mean more joint tours, collaborative albums, festivals and cross-country projects that promote African music as a collective cultural force.
A new chapter for African music
Afrobeats is no longer simply a Nigerian success story. It has become part of the global music conversation.
Its continued growth means that the decisions made by leading African artistes could influence how the genre develops over the next decade.
Davido’s concerns highlight an important question: can Afrobeats become more commercially successful without losing the sense of community that helped build it?
The answer may depend on whether artistes, managers, labels and other industry stakeholders can recognise that individual success and collective growth do not necessarily have to be competing goals.
With African music attracting unprecedented global attention, greater collaboration could give the continent’s artistes an even stronger voice internationally.
For Davido, the financial success of Afrobeats is already evident. What appears to be missing is the unity that once made the journey more communal.
And as Afrobeats enters an increasingly competitive global era, rebuilding that sense of camaraderie could become just as important as producing the next worldwide hit.
Sources
- BrandIconImage — Davido on the decline in camaraderie among Afrobeats stars
- The Guardian — Afrobeats’ global growth
- Punch — Davido says the culture is bigger than the Big 3
- The Independent — Davido on unity in Afrobeats
- Channels Television — Asa Asika on Afrobeats collaboration
- Grammy — Davido on the rise of African music
