Davido Reflects on Politics, Legacy, and Stepping Back in Recent Interviews

In the wake of his uncle Ademola Adeleke’s re-election as Osun State governor and the release of his sixth studio album Oriadé, Afrobeats star Davido (David Adeleke) has given a series of candid interviews. His most recent appearances—on The Uncut Podcast and News Central TV—cover his views on Nigerian politics, the future of his music career, industry relationships, and personal growth.

Speaking exclusively to News Central TV on August 18, 2026, Davido firmly ruled out entering politics himself. He described Nigeria’s political system as too stressful and unpredictable, saying he is “comfortable in [his] current job.”

“I can’t even do this with this system. The high blood pressure that… How can you wake up in the morning knowing that the people want you and you can get ripped out? It cannot happen anywhere else in the world,” he said.

He credited divine intervention for the Osun outcome and highlighted the power of social media in the campaign: “17 governors, with all their power, with all their immunity, with all their DSS, with all their billions, I defeated them with what? Just the phone.” While acknowledging that leadership can come from unexpected places—citing Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Liberia’s George Weah—he insisted he has no personal interest in seeking office.

In the same interview, Davido suggested he would bet on President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, pointing to a fragmented opposition. “In the South alone, almost eight people want to be president. Why can’t all of you guys sit down together? … If there was a unified opposition, presidents might have a problem. But they’re not unified.” He added that the Osun result still offers hope, driven by young people.

On The Uncut Podcast (episode released August 17), Davido discussed the trajectory of his generation of artists. He argued that he and his contemporaries should begin stepping back within the next five to six years to make room for younger talent.

“This is me and my contemporaries’ last 5–6 years. I am not going to be 40, still dragging the spotlight with guys in their 20s. Jay-Z took a break and he is doing his thing,” he said. “I can take a 10-year break, come back, and still do a 50-arena tour. I have the catalogue. I might decide not to make another song for the rest of my life, and nobody is touching my catalogue.”

He stressed this is not full retirement but a shift toward other ventures that music success can open up, while avoiding competition with artists in their twenties.

Davido also spoke about the current state of Afrobeats. While the genre is more lucrative than ever, he lamented the loss of camaraderie among artists. He recalled the early 2010s, when musicians hung out and collaborated freely—including sessions for his breakthrough “Dami Duro,” where artists like Wande Coal were present. “Financially, it is a great time doing Afrobeats, but the relationship amongst artists is a failure,” he noted.

He shared a personal story of early hardship, explaining that his debut track “Back When” drew from a real period of being broke after leaving home against his father’s wishes, even as friends from wealthy backgrounds lived more comfortably.

These interviews come shortly after Oriadé’s July 31 release and Davido’s active role in the Osun campaign.