Video: How Childhood Friend Helped Shape My Music Career — Davido

Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has credited a childhood friend and former staff of his late mother, identified as Lati, for playing a pivotal role in his musical journey.

The singer made the disclosure during a livestream with content creator, Carter Efe, on Tuesday, where he narrated how the duo’s bond began in his family house years before he became a global music star.

Davido said, “Without Lati, there’s no Davido.”

According to the singer, Lati was formerly employed by his mother before her death, adding that the relationship deepened after she passed away and his stepmother reportedly asked Lati to leave the family house.

He said, “Lati used to work for my mum. My mum passed, you know, Lati used to work for my mum. So when my mum passed, you know, Lati stayed around. And then when my mum passed, my step mum came, chased Lati away from the house.”

Davido explained that at the time, Lati was the youngest member of staff in the household, a factor he said helped the pair relate closely with each other.

He said, “That time, my Lati, he was the youngest staff in the whole house. So we could relate.”

The singer disclosed that Lati, who was into music production, would secretly take him along to the studio in his car, describing him as one of the first people to expose him to studio sessions.

He said, “Lati would sneak me in his car, go to the studio, sneak me in his car. He used to do music, he used to do music and DJ. So then he would carry me to the studio.”

Davido further recounted that he lost touch with Lati after he was sent abroad for schooling in the United States at about age 12 or 13, and that the two did not reconnect until he returned to Nigeria for a visit around age 14.

He said, “We didn’t see each other for like, probably from when I was like 12, 13 years old. And I came back when I was like 14 years old for December. And now, I went to meet Lati where he was.”

The singer said he used the reunion to update Lati on developments at home and to declare his intention to pursue music full-time, promising to bring his friend along once he achieved success.

He said, “I told Lati, I was like, man, Lati, I’m doing music too now. Full time. Don’t worry. I’ll blow. When I blow, I’ll come and get you. We’re going to travel the world together.”

Davido said he fulfilled that promise, noting that Lati joined his team following his rise to music stardom, although he currently works in the oil and gas sector.

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