Afrobeats Superstar Davido Talks Headlining Madison Square Garden and Wanting to Work With Rihanna and Jelly Roll
variety.comEmanuel Okusanya Afrobeats has been one of the fastest-growing musical genres of the past decade, but if any further evidence were needed that it has reached new peaks, just look at Nigerian singer Davido: Not only was he nominated for the first-ever Best African Music Performance Grammy earlier this year, he’s headlining New York’s Madison Square Garden tonight (April 17).
Born David Adedeji Adeleke, Davido has been riding a steady upward trajectory: His latest album, “Timeless,” broke multiple records in the days after its release: It scored the highest number of first-day streams by an African album on Spotify, 10 tracks landed in the Apple Music US Top 200 songs chart, and the album’s standout track, “Unavailable” (featuring South African producer Musa Keys) sparked a global dance trend.
Davido’s upcoming MSG performance follows his successful A.W.A.Y. (Are We African Yet?) Festival held in November 2023 in his hometown of Atlanta.
The choice of location reflects his seamless navigation between Nigerian and American cultures, and that of his audience. The duality is evident in his deep connections within the hip-hop scene and his distinct African flair showcased in collaborations such as his recent hit single with Chris Brown, “Sensational.” (Note: This interview took place before a video circulated of Davido apparently weeping on the phone with his ex; his rep had no comment on it.) Davido’s 2017 hit single, “Fall,” is often hailed as America’s gateway to modern Afrobeats.
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