Davido's National Theatre Stint Set to Highlight Africa's Venue Prowess

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido has articulated his vision for an upcoming three-night residency in Lagos, aiming to illustrate that African musicians are capable of orchestrating global-scale music events within their home countries. He also intends for these performances to boost the local economy and promote Nigeria's rich cultural heritage.

CNN reported on Monday that the acclaimed singer will stage his residency at the historic National Theatre in Lagos from December 17 to 19. The concerts will feature selections from his latest album, “Oriadé,” alongside a compilation of his chart-topping hits and appearances by collaborating artists.

Speaking to CNN, Davido emphasized the profound importance of bringing his international achievements back to Nigeria, stating, “Bringing everything back home is very important for the culture.” The 34-year-old artist revealed that the concept gained momentum following his extensive African tour last year, which marked his first continent-wide tour in eight years. He reflected, “Me just being home just gave me so much inspiration,” adding, “This kind of feels better doing it from where you’re actually from.” Davido further expressed his commitment to his local fanbase, asserting, “I don’t ever want to take that kind of break again away from my fans back home.”

Davido mentioned that his vision was partly inspired by the substantial impact of Bad Bunny’s 30-date residency in Puerto Rico, slated for 2025. That event is projected to attract international visitors and stimulate economic activity beyond the concert venue itself. “It was like a whole tourist attraction,” Davido explained. “The country (Puerto Rico) made money, he made money, he promoted his culture.” He hopes his Lagos residency will similarly entice international fans to visit the city, particularly during December’s “Detty December” period when Nigerians in the diaspora and foreign tourists flock to Lagos for various concerts and festivities. He lauded the local talent, saying, “The talent in Lagos is mind-blowing,” and “Talent is like water in Lagos.”

The recently renovated National Theatre holds a pivotal role in Davido’s plans, given its historical significance in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape. He likened the venue to New York's famous Madison Square Garden, remarking, “It’s like our own MSG (Madison Square Garden) kind of thing.” Davido stressed the importance of showcasing Africa’s infrastructure to the world: “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 acknowledged that while Afrobeats’ global expansion has created numerous opportunities for African musicians to perform internationally, this overseas success should not overshadow the importance of their home audiences. “Everybody’s going to get a hit and run to America, run to the UK, run to the Middle East and do shows,” he noted, but reiterated, “But I feel like bringing everything back home is very important for the culture.”

Davido conceded that artists might earn less from local performances compared to international ones. However, he emphasized that bringing large-scale productions home can still foster significant local opportunities. “We might not get paid as much as we get paid overseas,” he admitted, while highlighting that artists can bring the same level of energy and ambition to Nigerian audiences, thereby creating local employment. He also urged emerging artists to remember the fans who supported them before achieving international fame. “Don’t forget where you started,” he advised. “These are the fans. If not for these fans, we wouldn’t be here.”

CNN observed that Davido's Lagos residency represents one of the inaugural events of its kind for an Afrobeats artist in Nigeria, with Adekunle Gold having previously held a smaller residency in Lagos in 2018.