Davido reveals family chased him after releasing Dami Duro

Afrobeats superstar Davido has revealed that he was on the run from his family after releasing his breakthrough hit, Dami Duro, as they opposed his decision to pursue music instead of focusing on his education.

Speaking in an interview with Vibe Magazine, the singer said he faced intense pressure from his family, who wanted him to complete school and eventually work in his father's business.

"I was even on the run at the time from my family when I dropped that record," Davido said.

Reflecting on the lyrics of Dami Duro, the singer explained that the song was inspired by the challenges he was facing at the time.

"If you listen to the record, like, 'You stop trying to stop me, I'm the son of a rich man.' So that was what I was going through at the time," he said.

Davido disclosed that he was just 17, going on 18, when he released the hit song, describing it as the turning point that transformed his career.

According to him, he grew up in a family that placed a strong emphasis on education, where children were expected to graduate and join the family business.

"I come from a family which is education-based. The rule is that you go to school, after you go to school, you go and work for daddy. That's how it is," he explained.

As the youngest of five children, Davido said the expectations on him were even greater.

"I'm the last kid of five. So imagine the pressure on me having all my siblings have graduated," he added.

Despite the early resistance, the singer said his father eventually became one of his biggest supporters after witnessing his success in the music industry.

"My daddy was like, 'Ah, why is he this last one? Why is he this stubborn last boy that does not want to…' But now, that's my biggest fan," he said.

Davido also revealed that before releasing Dami Duro, he had spent time learning music production and sound engineering, skills that helped him create his early songs.

He added that he initially kept his wealthy background private because he wanted people to judge him based on his talent rather than his family's status.

"I didn't want them to know that I was well off because I just felt like they wouldn't treat me the same," he said.

More than 15 years later, Davido has grown into one of Africa's biggest music stars, with numerous hit songs, international tours and global awards to his name.