Nigerian superstar Davido left fans emotional after paying a moving tribute to his late son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, and his late mother, Dr. Veronica Adeleke, during his birthday concert in Atlanta.
The singer, who turned 33 this week, performed wearing a custom blazer bearing the portraits of both Ifeanyi and his mother. The moment became one of the most talked-about highlights of the night.
Facing the crowd, Davido paused briefly, looked down at the blazer, and delivered a heartbreaking message:
“I love you, son. Tell my mom, Daddy is a superstar down here.”
Davido’s mother, Veronica “Vero” Adeleke, died in March 2003 at age 40. The singer has repeatedly spoken about her influence, describing her as a teacher, giver, and a woman who believed deeply in education and compassion.
Just last month, Davido honoured her legacy by commissioning a hostel named after her in Abia State. According to him, the project was “not just for her, but for every young African chasing their dreams.” The tribute to Ifeanyi was even more emotional.
Fans recalled how the singer wore a cufflink engraved with Ifeanyi’s portrait during his wedding to Chioma. In his interview with Vogue, Davido explained the symbolism: He wanted his son “close to their hearts on such an important day.”
Davido and Chioma lost their son, Ifeanyi, on October 31, 2022, after the three-year-old reportedly drowned in a swimming pool at their Lagos home. The tragedy shook the nation. In July, the singer remembered him again, calling the little boy “a legend” and telling him to “rest in peace.”
In a deeply emotional CNN interview last year, Davido broke down while discussing the loss. He said the grief made him step back from music temporarily, admitting:
“We didn’t deserve that.”
This year, in another interview, he revealed that he and his wife believe Ifeanyi “came back” through their twins because of their striking resemblance.
Following Ifeanyi’s passing, Davido dedicated a track on his Timeless album to him and other lost loved ones.
In a bittersweet twist, the couple welcomed twins; a boy and girl, in the same month they lost Ifeanyi, a detail the singer still describes as “indescribable.”
Davido’s latest tribute at his Atlanta concert has once again reminded fans of the weight he carries beneath the fame, a father honouring a son, and a son honouring a mother.