Davido is drawing a clear line between where he has been and where he is heading next. After years of chasing global stages, the Afrobeats star says his new music will lean firmly into African sounds, stepping away from any need to tailor records for Western audiences.
The singer shared this shift while speaking on the Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi, where he looked back on a career packed with sold-out arenas and major international recognition. Now, he suggests, the motivation has changed.
“This part of my career, I have performed everywhere, sold out every arena, I have been to three Grammys in the last three years. The music that is coming next is very Davido, it is very African. We have done it so I am not really looking to really do Western sounds,” he said.
His comments arrive shortly after announcing a milestone event, his first UK festival, billed as ‘Davido and Friends’, set to take over the Crystal Palace Bowl.
The next phase of his career is less about proving a point on the global stage and more about anchoring his sound in his identity. With multiple Grammy nominations and a strong international catalogue behind him, he indicated that the pursuit of Western validation no longer defines his direction.
He also pointed to South Africa as a key territory in his journey, describing a deep connection with listeners there. Years of collaborations and regular engagement with the country’s music scene, he said, have helped build a loyal following.
According to him, “80 per cent” of South Africans are familiar with and supportive of his work, a reception he attributes to his collaborations with several artistes from the country and his consistent presence in its music scene.
“I remember when I had the Number 1 song on radio in South Africa, and for you as an Afrobeat artiste to get a No. 1 song in SA. Cause if you look at the top songs there, it’s American & South African music,” he said.
