Afrobeats superstar Davido has shared candid thoughts on relationships, money and his early struggles during an appearance on The Uncut Podcast, revealing he sees no issue with couples keeping separate bank accounts and recalling a time he was broke despite his privileged background.
Asked whether women should maintain secret bank accounts from their partners, the singer gave a clear endorsement of financial independence for both sides.
“Yeah, I think it’s good. I actually think they should; you never know. If I ever found out that my wife had a secret bank account, I’d not be angry; I think everybody should have their own,” Davido said.
He stressed that personal finances offer security in case circumstances change, adding that both men and women need to be prepared to stand on their own.
The conversation also turned to his early career hardships. Reflecting on his debut single Back When, Davido confirmed the lyrics came from real experience after he left home to pursue music against his father’s wishes.
“I was broke. I have rich friends with rich parents that are broke. I had rich friends with rich parents who lived in mansions in Ikoyi with police escorts, but had no money,” he explained.
Davido further recounted the story behind a viral video of him drumming along to an instrumental of Zlatan’s Pepper Dem. The moment happened during a December booking period when Nigerian artists are busiest.
“That was from my friend, Ochacho, and it was like December period. As a Nigerian artiste, that’s around the time that we get the most bookings so I went to a state and we were really drunk. Ochacho bought me a Lexus and I was so happy and when we were walking down, I saw somebody with drums and that’s how that happened.”
In one of the more eye-opening stories, Davido described an unforgettable display of generosity from a Lebanese family he met in Dubai. The family invited him and his entire entourage of about 15 people to Lebanon, covering private flights, accommodation that included a $36,000-per-night room for him, and a $50,000 dinner. The next morning, he woke up to find an Audemars Piguet watch for himself and Rolex watches for every member of his team, including his cook.
“Even my cook got a Rolex,” he recalled, describing it as one of the most shocking gifts he has ever received.