Video: No image to be protected when kids are being kidnapped, Davido

Afrobeats sensation Davido has defended his decision to spotlight the abduction of 39 children and seven teachers during his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He asserted that Nigeria's international image should not take precedence over the safety and well-being of innocent children.

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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.

Speaking in an interview with Focus on Africa host Waihiga Mwaura, Davido explained his choice to wear pins bearing the names of the missing victims on the global stage. He deliberately used the international platform to draw attention to Nigeria's security challenges, arguing that remaining silent to preserve the country's reputation is unjustifiable while children are still missing.

"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 stated. The award-winning artist emphasized that while he was honored to perform at the World Cup, he could not ignore the pressing issues back home.

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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.

Davido views music and live performances as potent instruments for advocacy. He believes artists have a responsibility to use their platforms to speak out on matters affecting their fellow citizens, especially when victims remain unaccounted for and risk being forgotten. "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 concluded.

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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.