Afrobeats superstar, Davido has shared the touching story of how his childhood friend, Lati, helped shape the career that eventually made him one of Africa’s biggest music stars.
The singer made the revelation during a livestream with content creator Carter Efe, where he reflected on their long-standing friendship and explained why he believes Lati deserves credit for his success.
Speaking during the conversation, Davido said, “Without Lati, there’s no Davido.”
How Lati introduced Davido to music
Davido explained that Lati worked for his late mother before she passed away. After her death, he said Lati was asked to leave the family home by his stepmother, but the pair had already formed a close bond because Lati was the youngest member of staff.
The singer 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.”
According to Davido, Lati was passionate about music production and DJing, often taking him to recording studios without anyone knowing.
He said, “Lati would sneak me in his car, go to the studio… He used to do music and DJ. So then he would carry me to the studio.”
Davido kept a promise years later
Davido recalled losing contact with Lati after relocating to the United States for school as a teenager. When they reunited during a visit to Nigeria, he told his friend he had decided to pursue music professionally and promised they would travel the world together once he became successful.
Years later, the singer fulfilled that promise by bringing Lati into his team after his rise to fame. Although Lati now works in the oil and gas sector, Davido’s emotional tribute has sparked admiration online, with many fans praising his loyalty and gratitude towards someone he says played a vital role in his journey.
