Afrobeats superstar Davido has explained why he used his performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert to draw global attention to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, saying silence is no longer an option when innocent children are being abducted.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Africa, the singer reflected on his decision to wear a customized jacket bearing the names of the 35 pupils and teachers abducted from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Responding to a question about why he chose to make such a statement on an international stage, Davido said celebrities have a responsibility to use their platforms to amplify issues affecting their communities.
“A lot of people don’t really want to talk about what goes on in my country simply because you want to protect the image. But there’s no image to protect if little kids are being kidnapped,” he said.
The singer explained that while he was honored to perform at the global event, he felt it was equally important to spotlight the painful realities many Nigerians are facing.
“You know, as much as I was happy to do the World Cup, we also have to understand that there are things going on back home in our country, which we have the power to let the world know through our own means. When I say our own means, where’s my power? My power is in music and performances. We have these students that have been missing, still not found. So yeah, I use my platform to project what’s really going on,” he added.