Davido has opened up about a disturbing experience during the early days of his career, revealing that a trip to Ghana changed the way he viewed fame and forced him to rethink his personal boundaries.
Speaking on the Vibe podcast on July 31, 2026, the Nigerian superstar said the incident happened barely two months after his breakthrough, when he had only two songs out, both of which had become massive hits.
He recalled arriving in Ghana to an extraordinary reception, saying the excitement from fans made him feel like an international pop icon.
“My first negative experience with fame was in Ghana. This is like two months after I’ve blown up. I had like two records, but these are like the biggest records ever. We landed at the airport in Ghana and it felt like Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber type. The energy was really amazing,” he said.
Davido explained that he was still adjusting to his newfound celebrity status and was thrilled by the level of attention he was receiving, particularly from fans who had packed the venue where he was scheduled to perform.
After the successful show, he returned to his hotel and went to bed, unaware that the night would take an unexpected turn.
“Every week, it’s just something new; I was excited that I’ve blown up. We got to the club and the girls actually loved me. In my head, I was like, I’m just a regular person last month, then we started the show. It was a great night and I slept off. All I heard was a bang on my door and I realised it was my manager,” Davido recalled.
The singer said his manager woke him up and urged him to stay calm before breaking the news that a woman had secretly photographed him while he was asleep and uploaded the image online.
According to Davido, the woman had allegedly told others she had spent time with him. When they doubted her story, she reportedly shared the photograph to support her claim.
“He then said I should calm down, but I didn’t know what he was talking about. He said a girl posted me while sleeping. Apparently, she told some people that she was with me and they said she was lying, so she took a picture of me sleeping just to prove a point,” he said.
The image quickly spread online, drawing the attention of his family and leaving him overwhelmed.
“My dad, my sisters were calling me. If I saw a balcony that day, I would have jumped because I was going crazy,” he said.
Recalling what happend, Davido said the episode became one of the defining lessons of his career, teaching him that fame brings not only admiration but also vulnerability.
He acknowledged that he was young, enjoying the spotlight and the lifestyle that came with his success, but the experience forced him to become more cautious.
“But these are lessons that you have to go through to understand some things. I was young and I liked women too much and God had to show me at the time,” he noted.
The award-winning musician said he eventually introduced personal boundaries to better protect himself while continuing to enjoy his life.
“I just had to tell myself that I’m young, famous, I’m a target, even if I want to have fun, I would set rules and have fun,” the famous Nigerian artiste further stated.
Watch his statement below.
“My first negative experience with fame was in Ghana. A girl posted me while sleeping, and everyone kept calling me. If I saw balcony that day, I’d have jumped. I was young and I liked woman too much” — Davido pic.twitter.com/qtfcn0alzh
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) July 31, 2026
