Monday, July 13, 2026

Nigeria, other African countries have “worst governments”: Davido

Davido said, “I’m happy that entertainment switched the narrative.’’

• April 30, 2025
Davido
Davido [Credit; Davido on IG]

Afrobeat musician David ‘Davido’ Adeleke has lamented poor leadership in Nigeria and Africa.

The singer said this during an interview on his newly released album, ‘5ive,’ on Apples Music’s Ebro Darden Show on Tuesday.

Davido said that he was happy that though Nigeria and other countries in Africa have “worst governments,’’ the continent’s entertainment sector projects a good light on the global stage.

He said, “If you go to Paris Fashion Week, like 80 per cent of the models are Africans, 80 per cent of the creative directors are Africans, 80 per cent of the DJ.  I’m happy that entertainment switched the narrative. We don’t have the best leaders. We have the worst governments but entertainment; when that music plays, boom!”

Several influential individuals have decried poor leadership as hindering Africa’s growth.

In November 2024, Davido on The Big Homies House podcast lamented economic hardship under President Bola Tinubu.

Asked for his stance on those contemplating returning to Nigeria and other African countries amid Donald Trump’s re-election at the time, Davido said he cannot leave America for Nigeria because the economy was in shambles.

“Leave America go where? To be honest, it is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles. I do my part; I am an ambassador. When I go home and I am filming, I am not going to show the bad parts,” Davido said.

He added, “I am talking about the situation in the country. Now the exchange rate is messed up; a lot of stuffs are not going well. The economy is just not good enough. The oil price is too high. Imagine the country that produces oil, paying more for it than a country importing oil.”

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