Afrobeats star David Adeleke, known as Davido, has announced that his sixth studio album, Oriadé, will drop on 31 July. This is a big moment as he marks 15 years in the music industry.
Davido shared the news on Monday during an interview with Billboard and on his social media. He wrote: “Oriadé, 31st July. The kingdom expands. Chosen long before the throne. Pre-order my new album now.”
ORIADÉ 👑 31st JULY.
The kingdom expands. Chosen long before the throne.
Pre-order my new album now. (Link in bio) pic.twitter.com/DfVLtbmYxA
, Davido (@davido) June 29, 2026
The album title, Oriadé, combines two Yoruba words: “ori” meaning head or destiny and “adé” meaning crown. This shows destiny, honour and fulfilment.
The announcement video shows Davido, 33, in a traditional outfit in wine and black. He is surrounded by a throne and a crown, showing the cultural side of the project.
Personal journey
Davido says the album reflects his personal journey and his aim to promote African music worldwide.
He told Billboard, “Over fifteen years ago, I decided to trust something I couldn’t fully explain… I just knew music was my destiny. Oriadé is a celebration of the journey that led me to where I am now.
“To be in a position where I can help push African music forward around the world is something I’ll never take for granted. I hope when people hear my new album, they understand that purpose doesn’t always follow the expected path. The biggest blessings often come from betting on yourself, even when the destination isn’t in sight yet.”
Davido also mentioned that Oriadé will bring back the sound that made him one of the biggest stars in Africa.
“The recent music I’ve been working on is really, really African. I’m taking it back to my original Davido kind of music,” he said. Fans can expect a project that is strongly tied to traditional Afrobeats sounds.
The 13-track album will be his shortest studio project. His previous albums include Omo Baba Olowo (2012), A Good Time (2019), A Better Time (2020), Timeless (2023) and 5ive (2025), which all had 17 tracks.
Exciting times ahead
The album rollout started with the release of the lead single, “I Know Who I Be,” on Friday.
This single follows 5ive, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard World Albums chart. That album also gave Davido his fifth consecutive entry in the top five of the chart.
The album included features from Omah Lay, Chris Brown, Victoria Monét, Becky G, Shenseea and YG Marley. The Omah Lay-assisted hit “With You” also became one of the biggest Afrobeats songs of 2025.
Oriadé arrives during another important year for Davido.
In April, he made his Coachella debut with a lively 45-minute performance that included a surprise appearance by Adekunle Gold.
He later collaborated with Major Lazer and Nelly Furtado on “No Place Like Home,” the official soundtrack for the FIFA World Cup 2026. He performed this song at the tournament’s countdown concert in Los Angeles.
While the full tracklist and guest appearances are still a secret, fans are already excited. Many expect another influential album from Davido.
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