Sola Benson
During a recent appearance on Focus on Africa, hosted by journalist Waihiga Mwaura, Afrobeats star Davido opened up about his decision to wear symbolic pins during his performance at a 2026 FIFA World Cup-related event.
The pins carried the names of 39 abducted schoolchildren and seven teachers in Nigeria, a gesture that sparked widespread discussion online. Davido said the choice was deliberate, aimed at drawing international attention to the ongoing tragedy of missing children in his home country.
He pushed back against criticism that such actions could reflect poorly on Nigeria’s global image, arguing that silence in the face of abductions is far more damaging.
“A lot of people don’t really want to talk about what goes on in my country simply because they want to protect the image, but there’s no image to protect if little kids are being kidnapped,” Davido said.
While acknowledging the prestige of performing on a global stage like the World Cup event, he stressed that visibility comes with responsibility—especially when serious issues persist back home.
“As much as I was happy to do the World Cup, we also have to understand that there are things going on back home in our country, which we have the power to let the world know through our own means,” he said.
Davido further explained that his influence as a musician is one of the most powerful tools he has to spotlight social issues affecting Nigerians, particularly cases that risk fading from public attention.
“When I say our own means, where’s my power? My power is in music, performances. We have these students that have been missing, still not found. So yeah, I use my platform to project what’s really going on,” he said.
His remarks reinforce a growing pattern among global artists who use high-profile appearances not only for entertainment but also to draw attention to humanitarian and security concerns affecting their communities.