news of Davido’s sudden parting with his long time manager, Kamal Ajiboye caught many people unawares. It was not only Davido’s fans that were jolted by the sack of Ajiboye, who apparently, was not aware of the big axe dangling over his head as the manager of one of the most famous and richest artistes in Africa.
For more than five years, Davido placed his destiny in the hands of Ajiboye and the results could be seen.
From his first hit single, Omo Baba Olowo to several other hit songs, the father of one rose to the peak of his career, ‘killing’ all shows, sealing endorsement deals and pushing his brand to many African countries, a feat that earned him the prestigious Best African Act at the BET awards in 2014.
Davido became the toast of many music lovers in Nigeria and the world over but, he wanted more.
Fresh off his deal with Sony Records in 2016, he inked a new deal with RCA Records, home to big stars like Zayn Malik, Miguel, Sia, Nigerian hip hop artistes, known for what they are; place premium on international collaborations at the expense of their local fan base.
Davido, like his colleagues, in the music industry, pushed so hard to break into the international market for years and did a number of collaborations with a handful of international acts but could not make a headway.
Tried as he may, he would later realise that in music, no matter how talented you are, your songs would only be better appreciated and understood at home.
What Davido could not achieve was pulled through by Tekno last week, who sealed Sony Music deal said to be worth N1.2b.
The mouth-watering deal was said to have rattled Davido’s camp and left him with no choice than to sack Ajiboye, who has been at the centre of pulling the deal through.
R gathered that Davido fired Ajiboye over his inability to break into the international market.
According to him, he left his destiny in the hands of another man for too long and it was time to take his destiny in his own hands.
“Fuck all that international sh****t. It’s cool but f****k. I am back to the basics,” he said on SnapChat.
He also announced that he would not entrust his career into the hands of anybody henceforth.
According to him,” I am my own manager in 2017! Don’t put your life in another man’s hand”.
When R reached out to Ajiboye to get his reaction to the new development, he didn’t pick calls placed through his mobile phone. He also did not reply his Whatsapp message.
and then