By Sulaymon Ruqoya
September 16th, 2026
Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has credited fellow Nigerian musician D’banj with being the first artist to achieve global stardom and pave the way for African artists on the international stage.
In a recent interview with Apple Music, Davido reflected on the impact of D’banj’s 2012 hit single ‘Oliver Twist’, claiming that before its success, Nigerian musicians struggled to get booked for international shows. He explained how the song marked a turning point for African music in the Western world, citing the video’s appearance of American rapper Kanye West as a significant moment.
“D’banj was my first vision of a Nigerian artist taking over the world. No one in America was booking Nigerian artists for shows, but that changed when I saw Kanye West in D’banj’s ‘Oliver Twist’ video on YouTube,” Davido stated.
According to Davido, the success of ‘Oliver Twist’ opened doors for other African musicians like 2Baba, P-Square, and himself, as Americans started booking them for high-profile shows, with some earning up to $1 million per performance.
“It was because of the success of ‘Oliver Twist’ that Americans started booking D’banj, 2Face, P-Square, and other African artists for shows. They were making about $1,000,000 per show. So I decided to switch and start doing African music because that’s where I am from,” he added.
While Davido praised D’banj’s contribution to the globalisation of African music, many observers have debated his claim that D’banj was the first Nigerian artist to achieve international fame. Music icons like Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Majek Fashek were celebrated internationally in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Additionally, 2Baba’s hit song ‘African Queen’ gained widespread acclaim, winning several international awards and being featured in the American film ‘Phat Girlz’ in 2006, years before ‘Oliver Twist’ was released.
Nonetheless, Davido’s recognition of D’banj underscores the significant role ‘Oliver Twist’ played in pushing Afrobeats and African music into the global spotlight.