How I almost jumped off balcony because of fame – Davido

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has opened up about one of the most difficult moments of his early career, revealing that the overwhelming attention that came with sudden fame once pushed him to the brink of despair.

Speaking in an interview titled “Davido Joins The Vibe Q,” published on VIBE Magazine’s official YouTube channel on Thursday, the singer recounted how a private moment during one of his first international trips became public, leaving him emotionally shaken.

Davido said the incident occurred just two months after his breakout songs catapulted him into stardom, when he travelled to Ghana for a performance.

At the time, he said he had released only a handful of songs, but they had become massive hits across Africa.

“I have like one song, I have like two records, but these are like the biggest records ever,” he recalled.

The singer said he was stunned by the reception he received on arrival, comparing the excitement surrounding him to that of global pop icons.

“Yo, it’s like Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber type. So I’m like, yo, we lit,” he said.

According to Davido, every week brought new milestones as his popularity continued to soar.

“Every week is just something new. I’m excited. I’m like, yo, I’m blowing up every week. We’re going higher in the charts,” he said.

He admitted that the sudden admiration from fans, particularly women, was also a new experience.

“I’m excited. I’m like, yo, these girls actually love me,” he said.

Davido narrated that after a night out at a nightclub during the Ghana trip, he spent the night with a woman who later took a photograph of him while he was asleep after friends doubted her claim that she was with the singer.

“It was my first groupie… that was like my first rodeo in that. And then I remember it was just a great night,” he said.

He said his manager woke him the next morning with disturbing news.

“He was like, open the door. He was like, calm down,” Davido recalled.

Explaining what happened, he said, “Apparently she was telling people like, ‘oh, I’m with Davido.’ They’re like, ‘no, you’re lying.’ And then she took the picture.”

The image quickly spread, prompting calls from members of his family.

“My daddy was calling me. My sisters were calling me,” he said.

Davido admitted the experience left him devastated and overwhelmed.

“If I saw balcony that day, I would have jumped. I was going crazy,” he said.

Reflecting on the incident, the singer said his youthful lifestyle contributed to the lesson he learned, adding that he believes God used the experience to shape him.

“I was young and I liked women too much. God had to show me, trust me, God had to show me at the time,” he said.

He added that the episode taught him an enduring lesson about protecting his privacy as a public figure.

“You’re young, you’re famous, you’re a target. Even if you want to have fun, take their phones,” Davido advised.