Davido reveals how childhood friend influenced his music career

Afrobeats superstar Davido has credited his childhood friend, Lati, a former staff member of his late mother, with playing a significant role in shaping his music career.

The award-winning singer made the revelation during a livestream with content creator Carter Efe on Tuesday, recalling how their friendship began in his family home long before he rose to international fame.

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 kept that promise, revealing that Lati later became a member of his team after his music career took off. He added, however, that his childhood friend now works in the oil and gas industry.