Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Davido, born David Adeleke, has attributed his status as the most-followed African artist on social media to his approach of being open-minded and actively engaging with his fans.
In contrast, Davido noted that many of his peers are hesitant to authentically showcase themselves on social platforms.
In a recent conversation with BET Talks, Davido said, “I’m the most-followed African artist across social media because I’m free with my fans. In the beginning of my career, I was very open. I used to do vlogs, showing people my life. A lot of Nigerian and African artists are always scared to show their real selves.
“I think living in America helped me a lot, too. Because my mind is kind of open a little bit. I’m not saying my people are ignorant. But let’s see them [other artists] taking pictures in shorts and slippers while chilling in their homes. Some artists won’t do that. They would want to change to something benefiting. But I still see myself as a regular person. I take pictures in shorts and slippers. And when it’s time to turn up, trust me, I turn up.
“When I moved back to Nigeria, some celebrities over-think and overdo. I was like, no, just be chill. Just go with the flow. I feel like that’s how it should be.”
