Davido Claims He Made Nigerians Ditch Hennessy for Martell
Afrobeats superstar Davido has made a bold claim, saying his partnership with Martell was so powerful that it drove Hennessy out of the Nigerian market. Speaking in a recent interview, the award-winning artist explained how his influence as a brand ambassador for Martell caused a major shift in the alcohol industry across Africa, especially in Nigeria.
According to Davido, Martell saw a 22% growth in GDP across the continent thanks to his endorsement. He said his fan base and influence played a key role in shifting people’s preferences from Hennessy to Martell.
He didn’t hold back when he said, “I chased Hennessy out of Nigeria.” He went on to explain how Martell’s parent company flew him out on their private jet to Cognac, France, to finalize their deal. Davido said they gave him his own custom bottle and even a percentage in sales from the brand.
His full statement was, “When Martell came, I grew Martell’s GDP in Africa over 22%. That’s one individual doing that. That’s not like 10 artists doing that. Basically, I chased Hennessy out of Nigeria. Go to the club, it’s hard to see a Hennessy bottle. It’s all Martell. I got called by the boss; he flew me out on the Martell Jet to Cognac in France and he sat me down and we structured the whole deal. They gave me my own bottle. I got a percentage in a bottle now. There’s influence.”
This statement sparked mixed reactions online. Some fans praised Davido for his business success, while others accused him of exaggerating.
One user, @michaelwale_, said, “That’s real influence right there. It’s safe to say Hennessy is for brokies.” But another user, @iamcurious00, disagreed, saying, “Na because Hennessy cost pass Martell. He no chase anything; the economy touch everybody.”
Some called him out for always making wild claims, with @_dchairman joking, “Otunba lamba don start again, very soon he go say na him comot sportybet and introduced stake.”
Whether true or not, it’s clear that Davido’s partnership with Martell is one of the most talked-about celebrity brand deals in Nigeria right now. His influence on pop culture and consumer habits continues to spark debate and admiration.
