Nigerian music superstar Davido, whose full name is David Adeleke, has opened up about the profound impact his father’s teachings on faith have had on him, particularly during difficult times. In a recent podcast with Rollingout, Davido shared how growing up in a Christian household and the lessons instilled by his father continue to guide him through life’s toughest moments.
Davido revealed that his father, who is not only a successful businessman but also an elder in the church, was a major influence in shaping his perspective on faith. “My dad is very successful, but he’s an elder in the church. I grew up as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I attended a Christian college,” Davido said. His father’s teachings on trusting in God have been a cornerstone of his resilience in the face of challenges.
He recalled how one particular lesson from his father has stuck with him: the importance of not questioning God. “I overcame a lot of challenges because of my dad. Initially, I did not understand, but now I’ve come to the realization,” Davido explained. He admitted that, at times, he struggled with the idea, asking himself why bad things happen to good people. “I was angry. Sometimes, I was like, ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’” he confessed.
According to Davido, his father’s response to his frustrations was simple yet powerful: “You can’t question God.” At the time, Davido didn’t fully grasp the meaning of this advice. “I was like, ‘What do you mean you can’t question God?’” he recalled, reflecting on his younger self’s confusion and resistance to the concept of unquestioning faith.
However, it was only after the tragic loss of his son, Ifeanyi, that the lessons began to resonate with him on a deeper level. “A year later [after the death of my son, Ifeanyi], we had twins, the biggest album of my career came, and my first Grammy nominations came,” Davido said. These events, which followed his period of grief, helped him understand the value of his father’s words.
He now sees the bigger picture: “Then it started to make sense. People go through different challenges, but just know that God has your back.”
