Veteran Nigerian singer John Odafe Asiemo, popularly known as Daddy Showkey, has explained why he is marking 50 years in entertainment despite being 56 years old.
The music icon recently announced plans to celebrate five decades on stage alongside his 56th birthday on August 4, with activities scheduled to begin with a concert in Ajegunle on August 8 before ending with a grand finale at Eko Hotel and Suites on August 9.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Daddy Showkey revealed that his journey in entertainment began when he was just six years old, describing himself as a child star whose career started long before he became a household name in music.
“I started appearing on television in 1976. I was on Bar Beach Show, then I went on to feature in other shows, and I was just six years old. It surprises me when people ask how old I am because I’m celebrating 50 years on stage,” he said.
The singer explained that the anniversary is a celebration of his entire journey as an entertainer, not just his success as a musician. According to him, he first performed as an acrobat before venturing into television, where he appeared in productions including Village Headmaster, before eventually building a successful music career.
“I will only encourage parents to discover their children’s talents and document their journey. I started as an acrobat. I’m not just celebrating Daddy Showkey the musician, but Daddy Showkey as an entertainer.
“Some of the people who discovered me back then are still alive. I was part of ‘Village Headmaster’. It was Adejumo Lewis who discovered me in Ajegunle. I started when I was six, and I’ll be 56 soon. I call myself a child star, and I appreciate my mother for that,” he added.
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Daddy Showkey also urged parents to identify and nurture the talents of their children, crediting his late mother for supporting his dreams from an early age.
Born in August 1970, Daddy Showkey rose to prominence in the early 1990s and became one of Nigeria’s biggest music stars, earning widespread recognition for popularising the iconic Galala dance while releasing songs centred on love, faith and social issues.