Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido has reignited conversations about his background after claiming he started life in a “face-me-I-face-you” apartment, a type of low-cost, shared housing common in Nigeria.
The claim is made on the track CFMF, off his newly released fifth studio album, 5ive, which dropped on Friday. In the song, Davido credits Jesus for transforming his life from modest beginnings to opulent success.
“Started all the way from face me I face you… And now, I am living real large, all thanks to Jesu,” he sings on the track.
The statement has stirred skepticism across social media, with many pointing to Davido’s well-known status as the son of billionaire businessman Adedeji Adeleke. Critics argue that the singer’s portrayal of a “grass to grace” story contradicts his affluent upbringing.
This is not the first time the 31-year-old artist has attempted to present a narrative of struggle in his music. His 2011 debut single Back When also featured lyrics suggesting he was once overlooked by women due to poverty—claims that were met with doubt, given his family background.
It wasn’t until 2012’s Dami Duro that Davido fully embraced his privileged roots, famously declaring himself unstoppable as “Omo Baba Olowo” (Son of a Rich Man), a nickname that later became the title of his debut album.
Despite the backlash, 5ive is already generating significant buzz online and across streaming platforms, with CFMF emerging as one of the album’s most talked-about tracks—not just for its sound, but for the controversy it’s stirred.
Whether the claim is metaphorical or literal, one thing remains clear: Davido knows how to keep his name in the headlines.
