Fast-rising Afrobeats singer Awosika Josiah, popularly known as Fido, has issued a public apology after months of criticism and online backlash over his conduct during his rapid ascent in Nigeria’s music industry.

The Joy is coming singer, who shot into the spotlight during a breakout run that turned him into one of Afrobeats’ most talked-about newcomers, shared a lengthy statement on X, acknowledging missteps and the weight of sudden fame.

There’s no easy way to write this, so I’ll just say it plainly. I messed up, he wrote, admitting that the speed of his rise left him struggling to balance public expectations with his own personal growth.

Stardom came into my life quickly. One minute I was dreaming about it, the next minute I was living it. And while the world was watching me grow, I was still trying to understand who I was inside that growth, he reflected.

Fido conceded that some of his past remarks and decisions were driven by ego, emotion and inexperience rather than maturity or intention. Along the way, I made mistakes. I said things that should never have been said. I allowed ego, excitement, and inexperience to influence some of my decisions. That’s not who I want to be. And it’s not who I’m becoming, he added.

His statement comes after prolonged social media tensions that repeatedly placed him at the centre of fan wars, particularly between supporters of Afrobeats heavyweights Wizkid and Davido. One flashpoint was his use of the phrase Osakpolor FC during a live session, widely interpreted as a slight at Davido’s 30BG fanbase. The remark triggered fierce backlash, trolling and heated exchanges across platforms, despite Fido later insisting it was a misunderstanding.

The singer has also previously been embroiled in disputes with his former record label, publicly raising concerns about financial disagreements and how they affected his early career. His new statement, however, avoided specifics, opting instead for a broad message of reflection and accountability.

To my fans, the ones who stream the music, defend me, pray for me, and believe in me, I am sorry, he wrote, extending the apology to the wider industry. To the global Afrobeats community, the legends and godfathers who opened these doors before me, my colleagues and everyone who felt disappointed by my words or actions, I apologise. Truly.

Fido said the controversies forced him into a period of introspection. There are moments in life when you either double down on pride or you humble yourself and grow. I chose to step back. I chose to listen. I chose to reflect. It takes strength to admit you were wrong. It takes maturity to retrace your steps. I’m doing both. I am still learning. I am still evolving.

Promising that his next releases will reflect a more grounded outlook, he concluded that his new music will come from a deeper, more honest and more grateful place, framing this chapter as a reset rather than an end. This is growth. This is maturity. This is me doing better. It’s game time again, he declared.