By Ebenezer Mabinuola
In an unexpected social media drama that had fans buzzing, Nigerian music sensation Davido recently had to clear the air after Nollywood actress Sarah Martins mistakenly suggested he had opened a restaurant – and even gave advice on what it should’ve been named.
The mix-up began on May 26, when Sarah Martins took to Instagram, praising what she thought was a new culinary venture by Davido, and suggesting it should have been named after his wife, Chioma Rowland.
“I honestly feel Davido’s restaurant should have been opened for Chioma or probably in her name… ‘5ive Star Restaurant by Chef Chi’ would have made more sense,” Martins wrote, adding, “This is coming from a place of LOVE.”
But there was just one problem – there was no restaurant.
What Martins mistook for a brick-and-mortar launch was actually “The 5IVE Kitchen,” a digital food campaign created in partnership with FoodCourt, a food delivery platform, to promote Davido’s chart-topping album “5ive.” The concept was culinary in spirit but purely promotional – no chefs, no restaurant, just an innovative way to connect music with meals.
Davido didn’t mince words in his response.
“U no get sense… No restaurant was opened. That was a promotional campaign with @foodcourt_app for my album,” the singer replied in a direct message that was later shared by Martins herself. He also demanded that Martins take down Chioma’s photo from the post.
Caught off-guard by the backlash, Martins quickly issued a teary-eyed apology via Instagram video the next day.
“I’m truly sorry, my King, 001. I would never intentionally disrespect you or Chioma,” she said, visibly emotional. “I was only misinformed and spoke out of admiration.”
She clarified that her comments stemmed from a post by food critic Opeyemi, who had incorrectly framed the campaign as a restaurant launch.
The incident has since cooled, but it stirred up lively debate online. While many applauded Martins for her humility and quick apology, others questioned Davido’s tone – was it too harsh, or just a man defending his family and brand?
The campaign at the centre of the confusion was a clever marketing effort tied to Davido’s “5ive” album, aiming to fuse music and food culture in a unique fan experience. Though temporary and virtual, the name and imagery made it easy for fans – and even influencers to believe a full-fledged restaurant was in the works.
In the end, both parties moved swiftly to set the record straight – and fans were left with an important takeaway: Double-check before you post, even if it’s out of love.
As of now, the dust has settled, with no further public exchanges. Davido’s album “5ive” continues to dominate the charts, and Sarah Martins’ apology has earned her some sympathy.
