Afrobeats star Davido wants his upcoming three-night show in Lagos to prove that African artists can create global music moments right here at home. He believes this will also help the local economy and showcase Nigerian culture.
CNN reported on Monday that Davido's residency at the National Theatre in Lagos will take place from December 17 to 19. The event will feature songs from his latest album, “Oriadé”, along with some of his biggest hits and guest appearances.
Davido told CNN that it is important to bring his international success back to Nigeria for the sake of the culture. He said, “Bringing everything back home is very important for the culture.”
The 34-year-old artist said the idea became more real after he toured Africa last year. This was his first continental tour in eight years. He explained, “Me just being home just gave me so much inspiration. This kind of feels better doing it from where you’re actually from.”
Davido added, “I don’t ever want to take that kind of break again away from my fans back home.” He feels a strong connection to his roots and wants to share that with his audience.
Part of his vision was inspired by Bad Bunny’s 30-date residency in Puerto Rico in 2025. That event attracted many international visitors and created excitement beyond the concert venue. Davido said, “It was like a whole tourist attraction. The country (Puerto Rico) made money, he made money, he promoted his culture.”
He hopes his Lagos residency will give international fans another reason to visit the city. December is a popular time when many Nigerians abroad and foreign visitors come to Lagos for concerts and other festive events known as “Detty December.”
“The talent in Lagos is mind-blowing,” he said. “Talent is like water in Lagos.” The artist believes the city has so much to offer.
Davido stressed that the newly renovated National Theatre is key to his plan because of its significance in Nigeria’s entertainment history. He compared it to Madison Square Garden in New York, saying, “It’s like our own MSG kind of thing.”
“It’s very important that we show the outside world that we have these kinds of facilities in Africa as well,” he said. “We’re really showing people that we can do this ourselves.”
The singer pointed out that Afrobeats’ growth worldwide has opened doors for African musicians to perform across the globe. Still, he argued that success abroad should not come at the cost of local fans. “Everybody’s going to get a hit and run to America, run to the UK, run to the Middle East and do shows,” he said. “But I feel like bringing everything back home is very important for the culture.”
Davido acknowledged that artists often earn more from foreign shows. But he insisted that bringing major productions back home can still create local opportunities. “We might not get paid as much as we get paid overseas,” he said. He emphasized that artists can bring the same energy and ambition to Nigerian fans, creating local jobs in the process.
He also advised younger artists to remember the audiences that supported them before they became famous. “Don’t forget where you started,” he said. “These are the fans. If not for these fans, we wouldn’t be here.”
CNN noted that Davido’s Lagos residency is among the first of its kind for an Afrobeats artist in Nigeria. Adekunle Gold held a smaller residency in Lagos back in 2018.
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