Time has a peculiar way of shaping our understanding of the world, often revealing truths we were once oblivious to. This was the case for Nigerian celebrities DJ Cuppy and Davido, who both admitted to not realizing the extent of their family’s wealth while growing up. Their experiences serve as a reminder that privilege, much like time, can be invisible until contrasted against a broader reality.
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, widely known as DJ Cuppy, recently took to social media to share her realization about her privileged upbringing. The 33-year-old disc jockey expressed how she grew up unaware of the immense wealth her family possessed. “Growing up, I didn’t fully realize just how privileged I was,” she wrote. Raised in an environment where financial struggles were nonexistent, Cuppy admitted that she had never known a life of lack. However, with time, she has come to appreciate the contrast between her reality and that of many others.
Her father, Femi Otedola, is a prominent businessman whose ventures in oil, energy, and finance have placed him among Africa’s wealthiest individuals. Yet, despite being the daughter of a billionaire, Cuppy’s perspective as a child was that her opulent lifestyle was normal. With age and exposure, she now recognizes the significance of gratitude, acknowledging that what once seemed ordinary to her is something millions aspire to have.
Similarly, Afrobeat superstar Davido, born David Adeleke, shared a comparable experience. In an interview with the Earn Your Leisure podcast, the singer revealed that he only discovered his family’s immense wealth at the age of 13. Unlike Cuppy, whose realization came with maturity, Davido’s awareness was triggered by an incident that forced his family to relocate. After an explosion destroyed their home, his mother informed him they were moving to another house one he had no prior knowledge of. Upon arrival, he was astonished by its grandeur and began to grasp the level of affluence his father, Adedeji Adeleke, possessed.
Davido’s father, despite being a billionaire, maintained a low profile, driving a modest Honda Accord. This humility contributed to Davido’s delayed realization of their wealth. However, as time unfolded, so did his understanding of the financial security that defined his upbringing.
Both DJ Cuppy and Davido’s stories highlight how time can shift perspectives. What once felt normal can, with reflection and experience, be understood as exceptional. Their journeys serve as a lesson in gratitude, reminding us that awareness often comes with time and exposure to different realities.
