Nigerian music sensation Davido recently shared a captivating anecdote about the nascent stages of his career, revealing how his father, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, intervened to release him from a record deal by refunding a substantial sum of $200,000. This intriguing detail emerged during a candid interview with BET, shedding light on the family dynamics and independent spirit that shaped the early trajectory of one of Africa's biggest music exports.

According to Davido, who was just 17 years old at the time, he secured a record deal worth $200,000 shortly after his hit single 'Dami Duro' propelled him into the limelight. "My Dad found out someone gave me $200K for a contract, he called them, gave them back their money and cancelled the contract," Davido recounted, describing the challenge of balancing his burgeoning music career with his university education. He expressed a youthful frustration at the time, feeling that as a billionaire, his father should have directly provided him with funds, prompting him to "go find my way" to secure financial backing.

Looking back, Davido expressed profound gratitude for his father's decisive action. "Thank God he did [cancel the contract] because I would have just been getting off the contract like two years ago," he stated, emphasizing the long-term implications a standard contract would have had on his career freedom. This account of Davido's initial professional contract aligns with previous revelations from businessman Tosin Ashafa, one of the original investors involved in the deal, who also shared on his X account how the musician's father ultimately bought out the agreement.

Reflecting on a Stellar Career and Gearing Up for the '5 Alive' Tour

The BET interview also delved into Davido's impressive touring history, prompting him to choose between his "A Good Time" tour and the more recent "Timeless" tour. The five-time Grammy nominee unequivocally selected his "Timeless" tour, describing it as a pivotal moment that saw him connect with a massive global fanbase through sold-out arena performances.

Fans can anticipate more electrifying performances as Davido has just announced the dates for his upcoming "5 Alive" tour, set to commence in the coming weeks. The multi-award-winning artist has slated 13 dates across various prestigious venues. 

A highlight of the tour includes a landmark concert at the 60,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the United Kingdom, where he will be headlining alongside American hip-hop icon 50 Cent and multi-Grammy-winning singer Mary J. Blige.

The "5 Alive" tour will also include two stops in Canada, with performances at the renowned 19,000-capacity Scotia Bank Arena and the 10,000-seater Place Bell. The majority of the tour will take place in the United States, where Davido has announced ten dates, featuring appearances at iconic venues such as the State Farm Arena in Atlanta and the Barclays Center in Texas. 

Attendees of the tour can expect to be enthralled by Davido's extensive catalog of hit singles, including tracks from his recently released fifth album, '5ive'. The album, which dropped on April 18, 2025, boasts 17 tracks and features collaborations with a diverse array of international music stars.