By Annette Ikponmwonba | September 3, 2026
Key Points
- Afrobeats star Davido has criticised rapper Erigga following a disagreement over family wealth and success in the music industry.
- Erigga praised musicians who built their careers without financial support from wealthy families.
- Davido argued that artistes from wealthy backgrounds also deserve recognition when they work hard to achieve success.
- The singer accused Erigga of promoting what he described as “useless motivation.”
- Davido maintained that coming from a wealthy family does not eliminate the effort required to reach the top of the entertainment industry.
Main Story
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has criticised Nigerian rapper Erhiga Agarivbie, better known as Erigga, following a disagreement over the role of family wealth in the success of musicians, The disagreement began after Erigga shared a post on his X account praising artistes who did not come from wealthy families and had to work their way up to build successful careers.
Erigga wrote “Shoutout to all the musicians who don’t come from family money and had to grind for every single dollar they earn, Davido responded by arguing that musicians who grew up with financial support from their families should also be recognised when they put in the work required to establish successful careers.
The singer maintained that coming from a financially privileged background should not automatically diminish the hard work, talent and determination required to reach the top of the entertainment industry, Davido said family wealth could provide opportunities, but it does not necessarily guarantee long-term success in a highly competitive music industry.
The Issues
The exchange between the two artistes centres on a broader debate about privilege, family wealth and merit within Nigeria’s entertainment industry, Erigga’s post highlighted the struggles of musicians who have had to build their careers without financial backing from their families. Davido, however, challenged the implication that musicians from wealthy backgrounds should receive less recognition for their achievements.
The disagreement also reflects different perspectives on what constitutes success in the entertainment industry, particularly where access to resources and opportunities can influence an artiste’s early career, While financial support may provide advantages such as access to better equipment, connections and promotional opportunities, maintaining a successful career still requires talent, consistency and audience acceptance.
What’s Being Said
Davido responded to Erigga in a strongly worded post, questioning the value of motivational messages that focus exclusively on artistes who came from disadvantaged backgrounds, He wrote “No be we say make your pops no guard o. Shoutout to the ones that came from family money and still grind to the top. Comot here with that your useless motivation … imbecile.”
Davido further suggested that he intended to continue building his wealth and eventually leave the music industry behind, arguing that success should not be judged negatively because an artiste had access to family wealth, “GO MAKE MY BILLIONS … then that shit gonna be boring AF. Deep down who like poverty? Nonsense,” he added.
What’s Next
The exchange has the potential to generate further discussion among Nigerian music fans about privilege, wealth and the different paths artistes take to achieve success, It remains to be seen whether Erigga will respond directly to Davido’s comments or whether the disagreement will remain a social media exchange.
Bottom Line
Davido and Erigga’s disagreement has reignited the debate over whether musicians from wealthy families should receive the same recognition as those who build their careers without family financial support, While Erigga celebrated artistes who had to overcome financial limitations, Davido argued that family wealth does not eliminate the effort required to reach and remain at the top of the music industry.
