Davido sets sights on Nollywood with upcoming film investments

Key Points

• Davido is expanding his empire into Nollywood, investing in film production alongside music, aiming to revitalize the struggling industry.
• The Grammy-nominated artist’s fifth album, “5ive,” features global stars like Chris Brown and reinforces his influence in music.
• Beyond music, Davido is involved in his family’s billion-dollar energy company, Pacific Energy, contributing to Nigeria’s power sector.

Nigerian Grammy-nominated artist and Afrobeats superstar Davido is setting his sights beyond music as he makes a bold move into Nollywood, Nigeria’s booming film industry. Known offstage as David Adeleke, the multi-platinum hitmaker says he’s ready to invest in the country’s creative economy in a more hands-on way, starting with film.

The news comes just after the release of ‘5ive,’ his fifth studio album—a 17-track project packed with star power. The album features global names like Chris Brown, Victoria Monét, and Becky G, as well as Nigerian favorites Omah Lay and Victony. It’s a strong follow-up to Timeless, the 2023 record that soared to the top of Billboard’s World Albums Chart and reinforced Davido’s place as one of Africa’s biggest musical exports.

Davido’s strategic entry into Nollywood

In an exclusive interview, Davido opened up about his deep-rooted passion for the entertainment industry, saying that even if he hadn’t become a music star, he would still be working behind the scenes. With a background in business marketing, he’s no stranger to how the entertainment world operates—and now he’s setting his sights on Nollywood.

Teaming up with longtime collaborator and director Dammy Twitch, Davido is diving into film production with a number of upcoming projects. “I’m investing in a couple of films this year,” he revealed, pointing to a new creative chapter that’s just beginning.

“The film space right now in Africa is going bankrupt, so we are definitely going to tap into that,” he said, making it clear that this move isn’t just about business—it’s about bringing something new to a struggling industry. 

His interest goes beyond producing, too. Davido’s already shown a flair for acting in his music videos, including hits like ‘Jowo’ and ‘Nwa Baby.’ “I can also act. I can act for real. I act in my music videos,” he said with a smile, hinting that stepping in front of the camera could be his next big move.

Davido’s multifaceted empire

While his focus remains firmly on his music career, Davido’s ventures outside of music are equally lucrative. He is involved in his family’s billion-dollar power company, Pacific Energy Company, which plays a key role in Nigeria’s energy sector.

Afrobeats stars like Davido continue to dominate, with Spotify’s royalty payments to African artists hitting record levels in 2024. As streaming giants recognize the genre’s explosive growth, artists such as Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid are propelling Afrobeats’ global appeal. Their contributions form part of the $10 billion in global royalties Spotify disbursed in 2024, underscoring the genre’s rising influence on the international music scene. 

With his sights set on Nollywood, alongside his ongoing success in the music and energy sectors, Davido’s expanding empire is a testament to his versatility and forward-thinking approach to business within Africa’s creative industries.