Nigerian music star Davido has recounted how an incident during one of his early visits to Ghana taught him important lessons about fame, privacy and the responsibilities that come with being a public figure.

Speaking on the Vibe podcast on July 31, 2026, the musician said his first major negative experience after gaining fame occurred in Ghana, about two months after his music career had taken off.

According to Davido, he had released only two songs at the time, but both had become major hits.

He recalled receiving an overwhelming welcome when he arrived in Ghana, describing the reception as similar to the attention given to global stars such as Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber.

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“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 said he was excited about his sudden rise to fame and was particularly amazed by the attention he received from fans following his arrival.

He explained that after performing at a club, he returned to his hotel and fell asleep, only to be awakened by a shocking incident.

“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.

He said his manager asked him to remain calm before informing him that a woman had taken a photograph of him while he was asleep and shared it online.

According to the singer, the woman had allegedly claimed she had spent time with him, and after others questioned her claim, she took the photograph as proof.

“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.

Davido said the incident quickly escalated, with members of his family calling him after the image began circulating.

“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.

However, the musician said the experience became a valuable lesson in understanding the realities of fame.

He admitted that he was young and enjoyed the attention that came with his new status, but the incident made him realise that fame also came with increased risks.

“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.

Davido said he later established personal rules to protect himself while still maintaining his social 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,” he added.

The singer said the experience happened early in his career and helped him understand how to navigate the pressures and challenges that come with being a celebrity.

“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