Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido used one of football’s biggest global stages to draw attention to the plight of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, wearing a customised jacket bearing their names during his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown Concert in Los Angeles.
The Grammy-nominated singer took to the stage at the Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday alongside American singer America Foster, electronic music group Major Lazer, and renowned producer and DJ Diplo, captivating thousands of fans gathered for the multinational celebration ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The concert formed part of FIFA’s global countdown activities, with simultaneous events held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the lead-up to football’s biggest tournament.
While entertaining a global audience, Davido used his appearance to spotlight the security crisis back home in Nigeria, particularly the fate of schoolchildren and teachers abducted during a deadly attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026.
Armed bandits reportedly stormed the schools, abducting pupils and teachers, including a vice-principal. One teacher was killed during the attack, while another abducted teacher was later murdered by the kidnappers.
The incident triggered nationwide outrage, prompting solidarity protests by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and an indefinite strike by teachers in Oyo State.
Davido’s gesture at the FIFA concert is the latest in a series of public interventions by the singer on Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
In a recent post on X, he expressed concern over the growing wave of kidnappings across the country and urged fellow entertainers to use their platforms to amplify calls for action.
“I’m weak. God, please take control; we can’t continue like this. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I can’t lie, we entertainers, including me, need to speak up,” he wrote.
The post drew widespread reactions from celebrities and public figures, including actress and content creator Kiekie, comedian and filmmaker AY Makun, and singer Tiwa Savage.
As concerns over insecurity continue to mount, more celebrities and citizens have joined calls for stronger government action to protect lives and tackle rising cases of kidnapping and violent crime.
Beyond the humanitarian message, Davido’s appearance at the FIFA Countdown Concert further cements his growing relationship with world football’s governing body.
In 2022, he featured on Hayya Hayya (Better Together), the first official soundtrack of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, before performing at the tournament’s closing ceremony.
He is also among several Nigerian music stars playing prominent roles in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup. Rema has been announced as one of the performers for the tournament’s opening ceremony, joining an international lineup that includes Katy Perry, Future, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, J Balvin, Lisa of Blackpink, and South African singer Tyla.
Meanwhile, Burna Boy has already contributed to the tournament through Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, recorded alongside Colombian superstar Shakira. Released through Sony Music Latin and FIFA, the song blends Afrobeats and Latin pop while promoting themes of unity and global football culture.
With Davido headlining FIFA’s countdown concert, Rema set to perform at the opening ceremony, and Burna Boy featured on the official anthem, Nigerian music continues to command a prominent place on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
