Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has shared how Nigerian security agencies launched a search for him on the orders of his billionaire father, Deji Adeleke, after he ran away from home as a teenager to pursue music.
He recalled secretly setting up a studio while living alone with his father in their 16-bedroom mansion, after the death of his mother and while his siblings were studying abroad.
Davido explained that he eventually got tired of hiding his passion and fled to London, where he lived with a producer friend for six months. Meanwhile, his family back home launched a manhunt involving immigration officers, police, army, and other security agencies.
The singer opened up during a recent episode of the American podcast, Bagfuel Brigade.
He said, “I was living alone with my dad in a 16-bedroom mansion because all my siblings were in America. I had a studio in the house and he didn’t know. A complete studio where I spent most of my time making music and smoking.
“I left the mansion for about six months. My dad was looking for me — the army, immigration officers, every security agency in Nigeria was looking for Dr. Deji Adeleke’s son, which is me.
“Eventually, I got caught at the airport on my way back from London, where I had been staying with a producer friend making music.
“When I returned to Nigeria, I wasn’t planning to go home. I landed at the airport intending to go to a friend’s place — but the moment I stepped out, an army officer approached me and escorted me outside.
“Waiting there were uniformed men and my dad.”
