John Asiemo, the renowned Nigerian singer popularly known as Daddy Showkey, recently shared a harrowing tale from his past, revealing that he was almost lynched for stealing many years ago.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Honest Bunch podcast, the 53-year-old ‘Galala’ hitmaker recounted his time as a member of a notorious gang in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Showkey disclosed that he and his gang members had access to firearms, which they used to terrorize residents in the area.
The gang’s activities led to a near-fatal encounter when two of its members, including Showkey, were apprehended by an angry mob.
“I was in a gang back in the day. I won’t lie. Some of us found a gun that we used to pick valuables from a refuse dump in Ikorodu. We started using the guns to terrorise the area,” Showkey explained. “One day, when we were out in our usual style, someone saw us and started screaming, ‘Thieves, thieves, thieves’. They caught me and my friend, and they tied us up and they were going to burn us. We were saved miraculously but unfortunately, they caught 91A and burnt him alive on the new road.”
Reflecting on his past, Showkey expressed his gratitude for surviving the ordeal and transforming his life. “I am a living testimony for every young man because if I, John, can be alive today to become Daddy Showkey, there is nobody who can’t become someone. People are usually ashamed to talk about their past, but I’m not. I don’t care.”
Daddy Showkey gained widespread popularity in the 1990s with his unique music style and ‘Galala’ dance steps, becoming a beloved figure in the Nigerian music scene.
