Afrobeats Superstar Davido Announces Residency in Nigeria: ‘This One Is Very, Very Dear to Me’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Afrobeats heavyweight Davido, born David Adeleke, will perform tracks from his newest record "Oriadé" in front of a Lagos crowd for the first time. The five-time Grammy nominee has locked in a three-night stand at the refurbished National Theatre, running from December 17 through 19. Each of the three shows is expected to feature unannounced special guests, with Davido mixing fresh cuts alongside the hits that built his reputation.

The residency arrives at the front end of "Dirty December," a period when the region typically sees a spike in both business activity and creative releases. Alongside the concert news, Davido released a trailer for the shows and a music video for "On the Road," which includes intimate footage such as his Coachella debut earlier this year. For the artist, the final month of the year carries personal weight: it is a season for family gatherings, honoring his heritage, and reconnecting with devoted fans. The National Theatre, officially the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, reopened in October 2025 after years of closure and a 68 billion naira renovation, equal to about $50 million USD. Its namesake, Wole Soyinka, is a Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian playwright and poet who in 1986 became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. "Any opportunity I grab to promote my culture, you know, I take it," Davido told Variety. "And this one is very, very dear to me because we're doing it at home."

The venue selection underscores that homecoming narrative. Davido likened the site's cultural significance to a famed American arena: "It's like our own MSG." The residency also shines a light on the region's fast-improving touring infrastructure. "It's not that we don't want to do shows back home," Davido said, noting that replicating overseas production standards in Nigeria has historically been difficult. "The level of production, we try to make it the same," he added, emphasizing that fans should receive an identical experience whether he performs in Croatia, Germany, or Lagos.

In his Variety conversation, Davido also discussed collaborating with gospel legend Kirk Franklin. The two initially met at the Grammys two years ago and were introduced through shared contacts. Franklin, a 16-time Grammy winner known for blending gospel with mainstream music, has previously expressed interest in incorporating Afrobeats into his work. "I come from a family – like my dad's an elder in the church. So, we definitely were bumping Kirk Franklin when I was young," Davido recalled. Speaking about his own role as a cultural connector, he described how perceptions of African music have shifted. "I remember when some Africans used to be like, 'oh, I'm Jamaican,' just because they wouldn't be laughed at," he said. "So, it's just crazy how the culture has been accepted in the Western world."

Looking ahead, Davido voiced enthusiasm for Nigeria's expanding music scene, pointing to emerging artists like Zaylevelten who push beyond Afrobeats conventions. "Nigerians are so super talented," he said. "There's so many other genres." Despite a grueling schedule – he performed 62 shows last year alone – Davido makes time for his wife and children and recently settled into a new home in Atlanta. "I don't think I'm slowing down for now," he said. "But I do love taking breaks." For the moment, his focus is on December's festivities and delivering an unforgettable night for his Lagos audience.