It’s impossible talking about contemporary Afrobeats without mentioning Davido. The Nigerian superstar is a master of his craft as he has clearly proven himself as one of Africa’s most prolific artists. His decade-plus reign began as far back as 2012 which saw the instant hit of his second single “Dami Duro” from the debut album Omo Baba Olowo. The hitmaker has gone on to serve as one of the pioneers on modern Afropop capturing the hearts of many along the way.
Regardless of his fortunate upbringing, the singer has received massive loyalty and adoration from his followers due to his captivating personality and irresistible hooks. As we enjoy the release of his album “Timeless”, it is essential that a trip down memory lane is made focusing on the trailblazing impact of our national treasure. The selection of these songs capture notable points in the artist’s career which saw his soar to success in both local and international recognition.
“Dami Duro” (2012)
“ Dami Duro” is the song which set the motion for the love showered on the artist since the beginning of his career. The debut single led to the rise of Davido to stardom as it was an instant hit. The song acknowledges the wealthy background of the artist while also showcasing his drive to achieve greatness. Interestingly, this led to the famous nickname “OBO” for the artist
“Gobe” (2013)
Gobe was a massive hit as the immense love and reviews increased the status quo of the artist in Nigeria. The song created the mood for fans as there was always the enthusiasm to dance once this started playing. It also helped show a playful side to the artist.
“Aye” (2014)
While many were finally coming to terms on the singer’s abilities, he showed another side of himself as a lover. Aye was one of the best love songs in 2014 as it secured his position to many who doubted his star prowess.
“Tchelete” (with Mafikzolo) (2014)
Davido’s domination on Africa cannot be complete without the hit collaborations with other African artists. The collaboration with the South African duo to release “Tchelete” meaning Good life expanded his talent across other nations. This collaboration is noted as one of the major highlights when these two nations come together.
“Skelewu” (2016)
This track took Davido’s career to another level attaining international recognition. Noted for its dance steps, this hit caused major buzz within social media helping boost Davido’s career as an Afrobeat artist.
“If” (2017)
Davido returned to international success with this amazing track while employing one of the most versatile artists in the industry, Tekno. The magic made by both artists generated worldwide attention as it displayed the artist’s dominance in the industry.
“Fall” (2017)
It is clear to say that the year of 2017 was Davido’s time as the artist produced several singles which dominated the market. It was quite impossible going anywhere without hearing this famous single. The massive airplay from both local and international radio helped stamp his international success.
“Assurance” (2018)
Assurance was an intimate song dedicated to his now-wife, Chioma Rowland . The artist brought back his lover side as he moved the emotions of his fans with enchanting lyrics of love. This marked it as one of the biggest songs of that year.
“Champion Sound” (featuring Focalistic) (2021)
Davido proved to his fans that he was here to stay with the release of this Amapiano hit. His long standing decade in the game was marked with this release which placed him as one of Africa’s biggest artists.
“Stand Strong” (2022)
Davido lived up to his name in surprising his fans with different artistic sides. The inspirational single moved away from the usual dance style as it preached faith and confidence. This release truly highlighted on the fact that there was more to offer from the artist.
Narrowing the impact of Davido’s music within the African continent and across was quite a difficult task. The tremendous mark made by the artist over the years is remarkable as he has earned his place as one of the best. His achievements know no boundaries as he is one of the most celebrated artists and a true legend in the making. He is clearly dominating Africa as his massive track record in leading singles reaffirms this influence. While being one of the most sought-after artists in the continent, he continues to show the world that he is here to stay.
