In perhaps his most revealing interview yet, he dishes on the not-so-glamorous aspects of his journey to success, as he gives us a rare insight into exactly what it takes to be one of Africa’s most formidable artists. From career challenges, to making up with Wizkid, to the scoop on the love of his life “Chioma, ” Davido bares it all in the publication’s “Africa Rising” – themed issue.

Speaking on one of the hurdles he had to overcome, Davido says, “…I left Nigeria for a while in January 2016, and I got signed to Sony around that time. And then I was left thinking, like, I’ve signed this deal…now what? So when I dropped this If thing, it at first didn’t really move. Nothing in general moved for me. I wouldn’t say that I was depressed
at the time since I was just trying to stay positive, but I was like ‘what is going on?’…  

In addition to this exclusive interview, this edition of the magazine takes an in-depth look into all facets of the Africa Rising movement. From food, to music, to fashion, beauty, business and politics, we explore all unique elements of the continent’s tremendous rise.

In light of shaking things up, with this edition, GLAM AFRICA will officially debut its Beauty Box in Nigeria, where each yearly subscriber will receive a free box of beauty products. When asked about the motivation for the beauty box, Chioma Onwutalobi, CEO of Glam Africa magazine said:

“I always want GLAM AFRICA readers to have a value added experience and its high time we start promoting brands that come from Africa and/or cater to us.”

Each box will be filled with Sleek Studio products. GLAM AFRICA Magazine is available at stores across the country, including, Shoprite, Oriki Spa, Sari Signature, Quintessence, and more, as well as on demand at www.glamafrica.com/magazine offering bank transfer and cash on delivery payment options.

Glam Africa Magazine is a quarterly lifestyle publication that showcases African excellence with a worldwide readership of 1.5 million and distributed in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and United Kingdom.

For all media inquiries, e-mail: ngoffice@glamafrica.com

Photo: Anny Roberts Photography

We were particularly thrilled to see a couple of names we recognised ranging from music stars such as Wizkid who has had an exceptional year especially after selling out London’s 20,000 seater, o2 Arena, to media mavens like  Aso Ebi Bella‘s Ink Eze. 

A huge congratulations to all who made the list and a great inspiration to keep on grinding. It’s great to see that Africa is on to something HUGE.

Speaking on this year’s list, Forbes Africa states:

The 2018 FORBES AFRICA Under 30 is our authentic and most definitive list of Africa’s most promising young change-makers. This year is our fourth edition of the list and for the first time, inspired by the growing number of young men and women entrepreneurs, we have expanded it to bring you 30 game-changers, all under the age of 30, in each the three sectors – business, technology and creative. The 90 in total are challenging conventions and rewriting the rules for the next generation of entrepreneurs, creatives and tech gurus.

We put in months of rigorous research, sifting through over 600 nominations, vetting them for weeks, verifying and investigating them. We favored entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and took into account their business size, revenue, location, potential, struggles, social impact and resilience. A panel of judges then debated the final 90. You may not know many of their names now and they may not be richest people in Africa, but they could be the billionaires of tomorrow gracing our future covers. This compilation is exciting, inspiring and offers a sneak peek into Africa’s future. Meet the class of 2018. The list is in no particular order.

See the full Forbes 30 Under 30 list below:

Business

Yannick Nzonde, 29, DRC
Co-founder ATI Groupe

Leroy Mwasaru, 20, Kenya
Founder, Greenpact

Ladipo Lawani, 29, Nigeria
Founder, L&L Foods

Emmanuel Ademola Ayilara, 29, Nigeria
Founder, LanaWey Investment Limited

Mwiya Musokotwane, 28, Zambia
Founder, Thebe Investment Management

Nomvula Mhambi, 29, Zimbabwe
Founder, Disruptive Innovation

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Falalu, 28, Nigeria
Founder, FalGates

Roger Boniface, 29, South Africa
Founder, EDISIM

Gilbert Eugene Peters, 29, Zimbabwe
Founder, Spidex Media

Sihle Ndlela, 28, South Africa
Co-founder, Majozi Bros Construction

Vera Shaba, 29, South Africa
Founder, Shaba and Rampling; Green Building Solutions

Thomas Duncan, 28, Namiba
Owner, Anticor

Wesley Beneke, 29, South Africa
Founder, WCB Construction

Anita Adetola Adetoye, 26, Nigeria
Founder, Anita Brows Beauty

Akinwande Durojaye, 28, Nigeria
Founder, JustBrandIt; FixMyRide. Co-founder, FueledUp; LashBells

Samuelle Dimairho, 27, Zimbabwe
Co-founder, Chengetedzai Depository Company

Joey Friedman, 26, South Africa
Founder, LA Group of Companies

Zuko Tisani, 25, South Africa
Founder, Legazy Technology Conferencing

Gisela van Houcke, 27, DRC
Founder, Zuri Luxury Hair&Beauty

Bidemi Zakariyau, 28, Nigeria
Founder, LSF|PR

Zareef Minty, 24, South Africa
Founder, ZRF Holdings

Fred Apaloo, 28, Ghana
Founder, Villa Grace

Kene Rapu, 28, Nigeria
Founder, Kene Rapu

Jack Mthembu, 27, South Africa
Founder, First One Adventures

Reabetswe Ngwane, 25, South Africa
Co-founder, KreamFields

Anelisa Mntuyedwa, 28, South Africa
Founder, Gilbert Civils

Gozie Coker, 29, Nigeria
Founder, Coker Creative

Alexander Knieps, 27, South Africa
Founder, Printulu

Adam Amoussou, 27, Benin
Founder, Amosconsult Group

Nataliey Bitature, 28, Uganda
Co-founder, Musana Carts

Technology

Rivo Mhiari, 23, South Africa
Founder, Rikatec

Olaoluwa Samuel-Biyi, 27, Nigeria
Co-founder, SureGifts. Director, SureRemit

Isaya Yunge, 28, Tanzania
Founder, SomaApps Technologies Company Limited

Mahmood Oyewo, 26, Nigeria
Co-founder, RubiQube

Kevin Lubega, 28, Uganda
Founder, EzeeMoney

Berno Potgieter & Thatoyaona Marumo, 28, South Africa
Founders, Domestly

Leonida Mutuku, 29, Kenya
Founder, Intelipro

Chris Kwekowe, 25, & Emerald Kwekowe, 21, Nigeria
Founders, Slatecube

Phiwa Nkambule, 26, Swaziland
Co-founder, Riovic

Sunkanmi Ola, 22, Nigeria
Founder, Syracuse Digital

Perseus Mlambo, 29, Zambia
Founder, Zazu Africa Limited

Kola Olajide, 26, Nigeria
Co-founder, Bridge Labs

Nneile Nkholise, 29, South Africa
Founder, iMed Tech

Bamal Namata, 26, Cameroon
Founder, Maibeta

Riaz Moola, 26, South Africa
Founder, HyperionDev

Leonard Stiegeler, 29, Nigeria.
Co-founder, Zanda, Jumia & Director Ringer Africa AG.

Kofi Genfi & Nii Osae Osae Dade, 24, Ghana.
Founders, CYST Company Limited.

Juan Pienaar, 27, South Africa.
Founder, Apex Media.

Timothy Adeleye, 29, Nigeria.
Founder, Optiweb Communications.

Maya Horgan Famodu, 27, Nigeria.
Founder, Ingressive.

Abraham Omani Quaye, 28, Ghana.
Founder, Farmart.

Melvyn Lubega, 28, South Africa.
Founder, GO1.

Huston Malande, 28, Kenya.
Founder, Skyline Design.

Cukia Kimani, 26 & Ben Myres, 25, South Africa.
Founders, Nyamakop.

Ink Eze, 28, Nigeria. (YAY!! BN Alum!)
Founder, AsoEbiBella.

June Syowia, 23, Kenya.
Founder, Beiless Group.

Obinna Okwodu, 27, Nigeria.
Founder, Fibre.

Abdellah Mallek, 28, Algeria.
Co-founder, Sylabs.

Yasmine El Baggari, 25, Morocco.
Founder, Voyaj.

Simba Mubvuma, 26, Zimbabwe.
Co-founder, Lexware Inc.

Creatives

Thuso Mbedu, 26, South Africa.
Actress.

Maria Borges, 25, Angola.
Supermodel.

Herieth Paul, 22, Tanzania.
Supermodel.

Eddy Kamuanga Illunga, 26, DRC.
Painter.

Cassper Nyovest, 27, South Africa.
Rapper & Entrepreneur.

Stacey Gillian Abe, 27, Uganda.
Multidisciplinary Contemporary Artist.

Yemi Alade, 29, Nigeria.
Singer & Songwriter.

Falz, 27, Nigeria.
Rapper & Actor.

Orapeleng Moodutle, 29, South Africa.
Fashion Designer.

Nomzamo Mbatha, 27, South Africa.
Actress.

Kwesta, 29, South Africa.
Rapper & Entrepreneur.

Davido, 25, Nigeria.
Singer & Songwriter.

Safia Elhillo, 27, Sudan.
Author & Poet.

Joyce Jacob, 28, Nigeria.
Founder: Joyce Jacob Beauty.

Shekhinah, 23, South Africa.
Singer & Songwriter.

Adebayo Oke-Lawal, 28, Nigeria.
Fashion Designer. Founder: Orange Culture.

Wizkid, 27, Nigeria.
Singer & Songwriter.

Koleka Putuma, 25, South Africa.
Poet & Author.

Nasty C, 21, South Africa.
Rapper & Producer.

Beverly Naya, 29, Nigeria.
Actress & Entrepreneur.

Simphiwe, 27, South Africa.
Visual Artist.

Rina Chunga-Kutama, 29, South Africa.
Fashion Designer.

Kemiyondo Coutinho, 28, Uganda.
Playwright, Actress, Filmmaker & Entrepreneur.

Sarkodie, 29, Ghana.
Rapper & Entrepreneur.

Mapeseka Koetie-Nyokong, 29, South Africa.
Actress & Entrepreneur.

Sonia Irabor, 28, Nigeria.
Writer, Filmmaker & Actress.

Tony Gum, 22, South Africa.
Visual Artist.

ANATII, 25, South Africa.
Producer, Writer, Director & Artiste.

Sasha Pieterse, 22, South Africa.
Actress & Singer/Songwriter.

Tania Omotayo, 26, Nigeria.
Model & Entrepreneur.

This move Davido has made, has got his fans in a frenzy. Because duh! when you publicly declare your love for someone it’s a freaging big deal. Especially when you are a guy like Davido – one of Africa’s most popular entertainers who could pretty much have any girl he wants.

If you’ve been following conversations on the Internet, you would have noticed that apart from people commenting about how awesome the song is, most have also been expressing their heartfelt sadness for his baby mamas, Sophie and Amanda, who both have beautiful children for him. On the other hand, many are empathizing with Amanda and Sophia, others are congratulating Chioma for successfully snagging one of Africa’s most popular artists.

But the question people aren’t asking, is how exactly can someone like “Davido” really give the new love of his life assurance that he will always respect, love, and protect her? Judging from the lyrics of “Assurance,” some of the ways he plans to do this are as follows (hope these are the correct lyrics sha. I asked Google

So I am looking for a sister

Chioma my lover

She get the dollar (Dollar)

She dey wear designer

…Love is sweet o

 When money enter, love is sweeter

Pepper rest o, so brother man go gat the liver

Call Anita o, tell am make she come dey go far away, far away. Me I no dey do again.She enter Atlanta, she go cause disaster…

So in a nutshell, he’s promising to shower her with love, money, designer apparel, travel, and cutting off relationships with previous love interests.

But is it really enough? I guess it depends on the kind of woman you are and what your expectations are.

So how do you really give your boo assurance when you’ve got baby mamas who have your children in the picture? Well, I don’t know, given the fact that I have no firsthand experience in matters like these. But there are some professional baby daddies who are quite famous, who do.

Maybe Davido could take a few notes from the models they have adopted:

Diddy: The “One Big Happy Family” Model
The business mogul and former rapper is blessed with 6 children, 3 baby mamas and gorgeous model girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. If I remember correctly, in the beginning stages, there were lots of issues with this blended family. But Diddy somehow found a way to get everyone to get along. But how did he do it? Through genuine friendships with them. He once told People Magazine:

“I met all of them [my baby mamas] in the same year, so I’ve known all of them in the same amount of time — but we were friends. Then I would get my heart broken and then my friend would be there, and I would fall in love with my friend, and then I would get my heart broken..I’ve been truly blessed to have some great, incredible relationships that have afforded me these children by these very strong, intelligent, beautiful black women…The mothers of my children are my best friends. My hat goes off to them…”

Apparently, Cassie is also good friends with Diddy’s baby mamas and even hangs out with them.

So yeah, if Davido could adopt this model of baby fatherhood, it’s very possible that him, Chioma, Amanda, and Sophie could all just be one big happy family.

Tuface Idibia: The “Put a ring on it” Model
When Tuface married Annie after all the previous baby mama drama, we were all ecstatic! Right? Because marriage is supposed to be the ultimate “Assurance” of a serious commitment. Taking vows before God and man to love someone for better or for worse and to forsake all others is no joke! Although there have been one or two controversies in their marriage, true love has indeed conquered all.

Will Davido be giving Chioma this ultimate Assurance of marriage anytime soon? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see won’t we?

Wizkid: The “Full Disclosure” Model
There’s nothing more refreshing than a guy who is totally honest! Like, “dude tell me what the deal is, and I’ll decide whether I want to stay or not.” BRAVO! In this full disclosure model, Wizkid gives his baby mamas and girlfriends an “Assurance” of honesty: being frank that he has relationships with multiple women.

During a recent interview, he disclosed that he has several girlfriends, and they all know about each other. He also emphasized that he won’t be getting married anytime soon.

From the looks of things though, Davido is so crazy about Chioma that he won’t be acquiring any other girlfriend anytime soon…but just in case he decides to, it would be advisable to be totally honest about it. Honesty is a sign of respect for the one you love, as Wizkid has clearly shown.

***
Whichever model Davido chooses, I’m rooting for him and Chioma! They are so cute together.

Photo Credit: Max FM