A Timeline of Davido and Chioma Rowland’s Love Story

Initially slated for 2020, the duo’s knot-tying has been a protracted affair, one with more than its fair share of highlights. It’s the culmination of a decade of happenings, with the relationship dating back at least seven years. As Davido and Rowland renew their commitment to each other in a hugely symbolic, ultra-lavish affair, OkayAfrica traces the timeline and marquee public moments of their relationship thus far.

2017 - Rumor mill starts running

2017 was unarguably the year of Davido. After a lackluster EP from the previous year, the singer ruled the airwaves with a string of inescapable hit songs. “IF” and “Fall,” his two signature singles from that year, were head-over-heels love songs, and it seemed like Davido mined those songs from his real-life experiences. In a cover story with Nigerian publication NATIVE MagNATIVE Mag, it was hinted that the singer was in a committed relationship and fans pointed out the consistent presence of a lady in his Snapchat stories. Nothing was fully substantiated but the rumor mill had done its job.

2018 - First public outing and “Assurance”

In January, blogs shared news that Davido and Chioma attended a family function together in Ede, Osun State, where the singer’s family is from. That was a sign that the relationship was in an advanced stage and it didn’t take long for the singer to not only confirm it but immortalize it.

While it was no longer a matter of speculation, Davido publicly unveiled his relationship in grand terms: a dedicated song and an accompanying music video. “Assurance” was a viral smash. As a song, it was catchy and heartfelt. “I am looking for a sister, Chioma my lover,” he sang on the pre-chorus. Its music video sealed the gambit, featuring his partner as the lead vixen, wearing a 30 Billion Gang chain.

Days later, at the 2018 Headies, Davido won the award for Artist of the Year, and in his speech about “[rising] by lifting others,” Chioma was one of the people the singer dedicated his award to.

2019 - Wedding proposal and their first child

In September 2019, video clips of Davido proposing to Chioma in London went viral on social media. This was days after it was reported that the singer had been formally introduced to his then-girlfriend’s family. The singer proposed with a tear-drop diamond ring with “Assurance” engraved in it.

In the video clips, it was also seen that Chioma was pregnant, with a baby bump showing in her sequined, shiny black dress. A month later, she delivered the couple’s son, Ifeanyi.

2020 - #Assurance2020 is postponed

To close out 2019, Davido dropped his then-long-awaited sophomore album, A Good Time, which featured more than a handful of songs clearly inspired by his fianceé. One of them is the Yoruba highlife-inspired standout, “1 Milli.” The song, which is centered around Davido’s willingness to pay a hefty bride price for his lover, includes the declared adlib, “assurance 2020,” referencing the popular hashtag that had been circulating since his proposal.

At the top of 2020, the singer released the video for “1 Milli,” a colorful, carnival-like video featuring Chioma. While Davido and Dir. K were (rightly) called out for copying the work of British Nigerian filmmaker Adeyemi Michael, the video set public expectations for a wedding ceremony as grand as what viewers watched.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted plans for that grand wedding. At its height, Davido shared that Chioma tested positive for the virus and that he had to be isolated. With his wedding indefinitely postponed, the singer poured his energy into his third album, the November-released A Better Time, which featured a picture of their son Ifeanyi on the cover.

2022 - A tragic loss

Two years after their child was immortalized on the cover of ABT, Davido and Chioma lost their son. The tragic loss sent Davido, who was set to release his fourth album, into a hiatus for several months. In that period, the singer, who’s usually hyper-online, went incognito, only appearing in public to celebrate his uncle Ademola Adeleke’s confirmation as Osun State governor and a performance at the Qatar 2022 World Cup Final. Appearing alongside him on the latter occasion was Chioma, but the couple soon went back into private mode as they grieved their loss.

2023 - A secret marriage and a set of twins

Around the time of their World Cup appearance, news reports came out claiming that Davido and Chioma had tied the knot in a secret ceremony, forgoing the planned wedding pomp. The singer confirmed as much in a return interview while promoting his fourth album, Timeless.

As with his previous two albums, his partnership with Chioma is a clear inspiration for many of the songs, and a seemingly innocuous line foreshadowed what would happen next.

“You be my only baby…Ma bimo meji, mama ibeji,” Davido sang on “IN THE GARDEN,” which features Davido Music Worldwide signee, Morravey. The latter part of the quoted lines, sung in Yoruba, sees the singer planning to give birth to a set of twins with his partner, which is exactly what happened months later.

In October, Davido and Chioma welcomed a set of twins, and have since kept them out of the limelight. While allegations of infidelity on Davido’s part have gone viral on two occasions over the past two years, the couple is flaunting its faith in its bond by ensuring the promise of #Assurance2020 is lived out properly in the celebrations of #Chivido2024.