Talent manager Asa Asika has opened up about his journey with superstar singer Davido. In a recent interview, he described the singer as one of the most influential Nigerians under 40, citing his massive social media following and brand influence. He also likened the singer’s influence to that of a president, which he said he constantly jokes with him about. Asika shared how Davido’s popularity has helped him love past controversies that could have severely affected other public figures.
The talented manager went on to describe Davido as a walking billboard, noting that brands regularly approach him because of his massive influence and visibility. He disclosed that Davido hasn’t paid a dime for his music videos, as brands have helped fund them. Asa said he has become selective about brand partnerships, preferring natural collaborations. Asa recalled signing a 10-year deal with a Chinese phone company despite not using its phone.
“Davido is probably the most influential person from Nigeria below the age of 40, in my opinion. I say to him all the time, “You do know you’re kinda like the President of Nigeria? There are some things I’ve seen Davido do, and I’d be like, if someone else did this, they would never get back from it. Sometimes I’m like, yeah, it’s over. I don’t know how we’re going to bounce back from this.
And everybody wakes up tomorrow morning, and they’re like, yeah, nothing happened. I have emails from brands like, “I just want Davido to hold this bottle for 20 minutes or put it in his video.” He hasn’t paid for music videos with his own money in ages. He had a 10-year deal with a Chinese phone company, but he can’t even unlock their phone. They’d get angry whenever he held an iPhone, so anytime he did, they’d deduct money”.
“ Davido is probably the most influential person from Nigeria under 40, in my opinion. I say to him all the time, ‘You do know you’re kinda like the president of Nigeria?’ ” — Asa Asika pic.twitter.com/m6mo27FJ87 — @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) September 27, 2026 “I have a big plan for Davido next. I want to make him like a travel influencer. I spoke with someone who works at YouTube because Davido is a foodie; he likes to keep in touch with food everywhere he travels to, and people love his personality.” —Asa Asika pic.twitter.com/Ls5V07I624 — carter🌚 (@carter8f) September 27, 2026 “Davido hasn’t paid for a music video with his own money in ages.
He had a 10-year deal with a Chinese phone company, but he can’t even unlock their phone. They’d get angry whenever he held an iPhone, so anytime he did, they’d deduct money.” —Asa Asika pic.twitter.com/hGoMa73Fmf — carter🌚 (@carter8f) September 27, 2026 In April, Davido’s manager, reflected on his journey, noting that Davido ran from school to chase his dream and that the school is telling that story.
A year back, Asa, in an interview, declared Davido the most influential person in Africa. Asa also spoke about how he and his team consistently land brand deals for Davido while staying true to his identity. Asa clarified that nothing is random and no brand deal doesn’t align with Davido’s brand. Over the years, Davido has proven himself to be one of the greatest of his time. He has had several successful albums and shows that pulled in thousands of fans.
In an interview with The Vibe, he boasted about his global career and wealth, saying no peers from similar backgrounds match his achievements outside Africa. The singer questioned which other billionaire’s child in the world has made a name for themselves and made a lot of money like him. In a previous interview, Davido revealed his greatest fear is knowing when it’s time to step away from music to avoid ruining his legacy.
He referenced football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, noting that despite everything the Portuguese legend had achieved, he still faced criticism during the World Cup. The music star had bragged as he reflected on his musical journey. In a tweet, he said that since he entered the game, nobody has had peace, and admitted that he loved that effect. Also, last year, the Grammy nominee noted how people always come together to discredit him.
However, God was working overtime for him. In 2024, the singer achieved a major milestone in his career, reaching the Billboard 2024 Honor Roll for topping the streaming charts. The singer was the only Nigerian singer to make it to the list, which was quite a big deal for any artist at all.
