Davido: Lagos Residency Will Showcase Africa’s World-Class Entertainment Venues

Afrobeats superstar Davido has said his planned three-night residency at the National Theatre in Lagos will demonstrate that African artists can stage major international entertainment events from home while promoting Nigerian culture and contributing to the local economy.

Davido is scheduled to perform at the National Theatre from December 17 to 19, with the residency expected to feature songs from his latest album, Oriadé, alongside some of his biggest hits and appearances by selected collaborators.

Speaking about the project, Davido said bringing his international success back to Nigeria was important to him and to the growth of the country’s entertainment industry.

“Bringing everything back home is very important for the culture,” he said.
The singer explained that the idea gained momentum following his tour of Africa last year, which marked his first major continental tour in about eight years.

According to him, spending more time in Nigeria provided fresh inspiration and strengthened his desire to connect more directly with audiences at home.

“Me just being home just gave me so much inspiration. This kind of feels better doing it from where you’re actually from,” he said.

Davido added that he did not want to spend another extended period away from his Nigerian fans.

“I don’t ever want to take that kind of break again away from my fans back home,” he said.

The singer said he was also inspired by the impact of Bad Bunny’s 30-date residency in Puerto Rico in 2025.

He noted that the residency attracted visitors, generated economic activity and helped promote Puerto Rican culture internationally.

“It was like a whole tourist attraction,” Davido said. “The country made money, he made money, he promoted his culture.”

He expressed hope that his Lagos residency would similarly encourage international visitors to travel to Nigeria, particularly during December when Lagos attracts Nigerians in the diaspora and tourists for concerts, festivals and other entertainment activities popularly associated with “Detty December.”

Davido also highlighted the depth of musical talent in Lagos, describing the city as a major source of creativity for African entertainment.

“The talent in Lagos is mind-blowing. Talent is like water in Lagos,” he said.

The newly renovated National Theatre is expected to play a central role in the residency. Davido said the venue’s historical importance to Nigeria’s entertainment industry made it particularly suitable for the project.

Comparing the National Theatre with Madison Square Garden in New York, he described it as Nigeria’s own major entertainment landmark.

“It’s like our own MSG (Madison Square Garden) kind of thing,” he said.

Davido said staging a major international-standard production at the venue would help change perceptions about Africa’s capacity to host world-class entertainment events.

“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 noted that the global rise of Afrobeats had created opportunities for African musicians to perform across the United States, United Kingdom, Middle East and other parts of the world.

However, he stressed the importance of maintaining strong connections with audiences in Africa, arguing that international success should also translate into major entertainment activities at home.

“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 could earn more from international performances but said bringing major productions to Nigeria could create opportunities for local workers and businesses while exposing Nigerian audiences to large-scale entertainment experiences.

“We might not get paid as much as we get paid overseas,” he said, while emphasising that artists could still bring the same energy and ambition to Nigerian audiences.

He also advised emerging musicians to remain connected to the fans who supported them before they achieved international recognition.

“Don’t forget where you started,” Davido said. “These are the fans. If not for these fans, we wouldn’t be here.”

The Lagos residency is expected to be one of the notable residency-style performances by an Afrobeats artist in Nigeria. Adekunle Gold previously held a smaller Lagos residency in 2018.

Davido’s December performances are therefore expected to combine music, entertainment and cultural promotion while placing the National Theatre at the centre of a major Lagos entertainment event.

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