Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, has confidently addressed his significant impact on the global afrobeats movement, insisting that his contributions are too essential to ignore.

Known for his hits like Skelewu, Fall, and FIA, Davido made this declaration in a recent feature with TheBeatJuice magazine, stating, “Afrobeats can’t be brought up without my name. Impossible.”

The Nigerian superstar has undeniably played a major role in pushing afrobeats into mainstream popularity, both in Africa and internationally.

His career took off in the early 2010s, and since then, he has delivered countless chart-topping songs, collaborated with global icons, and performed on some of the biggest stages, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and the World Cup Closing Ceremony.

Often grouped alongside fellow Nigerian megastars Wizkid and Burna Boy, Davido has been part of the trio that has defined the modern afrobeats sound.

However, like his peers, Davido has expressed discomfort with being limited to the “afrobeats” label.

In a previous appearance on the Business Untitled Podcast, he voiced his concern about the tendency to categorize all African artists under the afrobeats umbrella, regardless of their unique sounds.

He explained that while he primarily describes his music as “afro-fusion”—a blend of afrobeats, pop, R&B, and other influences—he’s not opposed to being tagged with the afrobeats genre.

He understands the broader significance of the term and how it has helped African music gain international recognition.

“I don’t get offended when we’ve been categorized as afrobeats,” he said, “We need a genre.

It could be R&B or afropop. I call my music afro-fusion, but I’m not insisting that people label it that way.

I know how long it took for African music to become mainstream.”