Nigerian singer David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, recently expressed his belief that Africa’s cultural renaissance has significantly enhanced the continent’s global image. In a recent interview with Kiss Fresh UK, he highlighted how the worldwide success of Afrobeats, alongside the growing recognition of African cuisine and culture, has garnered respect for Africans in the Western world.
Reflecting on his summer travels in Europe, Davido noted, “I had like two gigs, but I was on vacation. And I saw that the landscape has changed.” He pointed out that just two years prior, Afrobeats was played for an hour straight in European venues, demonstrating the genre’s increasing popularity. “I mean, people love Afrobeats. Everybody likes that sound now, even in America,” he continued.
Davido also observed a shift in the way American artists approach collaboration, stating that they now prefer to create music in the Afrobeats style rather than sticking solely to their traditional sounds. “Even when we want to collaborate with American artists and we want to do their own sound, they are like, no, no, let’s do Afrobeats,” he said.
The singer emphasized that this change in narrative about Africans reflects a broader recognition of the continent’s cultural contributions, extending beyond music to include fashion and cuisine. “Now, the narrative has changed. The respect is there. Not only in music but in fashion, food,” he asserted.
Davido’s insights underline a transformative moment for African culture, where its rich heritage is not only celebrated but also embraced globally, contributing to a newfound respect for the continent and its people.
