David Adeleke, better known as Davido, an Afrobeats singer, has described how his father, Chief Adedeji, sent police officers to arrest him several times in the beginning of his career.
The ‘OBO’ singer revealed that his father was initially opposed to his musical career and preferred that he focus on his education.
Following the release of his album, Davido revealed this when he appeared on the Ebro in the Morning Show on Hot 97FM in New York, USA. On Friday, the station posted the interview to YouTube.
Davido claimed that his father sent police to arrest him and stop performances at which he was scheduled to appear on various occasions.
“He sent police to get me… like he sees a billboard; for example, ‘Davido performing, Wizkid performing’. He would send police to arrest everybody – the show promoter, if you’re there (you would be arrested),” he told the FM station as he and the show presenters laughed about it.
When asked why his dad was doing that, Davido said, “So, I gotta go back to school.”
“He kept on doing it. Then there was one time. This is where I knew that ‘Oh I’m lit!’. They (the police) came and got me. Then I’m in the cell and the dude that got the keys his phone rings, and it’s my song! I said ‘that’s me’. He said ‘you’re Davido?’. I said ‘yes!’. And he let me go.”
He said after then he dropped a record that became big in Africa. “The president was playing it,” he boasted.
When the singer was asked when his dad stopped getting him arrested, Davido said, “I finished school. But I had to do like a part-time stuff.”
He noted that his father didn’t hate music, he wanted him to be serious with his education.
“Not that he hated music, he just wanted me to go to school. And I feel like, he wants that whatever I’m gonna do, I have to be successful,” he added.
He said his father now called him to ask what next, adding that his dad was proud of him, and he was his number one fan.
“He’s calling, asking me what next. He’s like over-asking questions,” he added.
