World Cup countdown: Davido wears custom jacket bearing names of abducted pupils, teachers

Afrobeats superstar Davido used his performance at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert to draw attention to the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria, specifically honoring pupils and teachers recently abducted in Oyo State. The singer appeared on stage wearing a custom black leather jacket adorned with green circular buttons, each bearing the names of the victims.

To distinguish between those who lost their lives and those still held captive, the names of the deceased were written in red lettering, while the names of those still in captivity appeared in white. Davido also wore a white t-shirt with "NIGERIA" emblazoned on it, and the back of his jacket featured the bold message "BRING THEM HOME."

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Peace and love everywhere. May God be with the families of the abducted and the ones who have been killed.

Moments before his performance, Davido addressed the situation, expressing grief and urging swift government intervention. "My country is going through a lot. We represent everywhere we go," he stated, praying for the families of the abducted and those killed. The singer's advocacy highlighted the plight of the victims who remain in captivity, turning his highly anticipated performance into a powerful statement on national security.

Davido was a headlining performer at the official 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert in the United States. He is also featured on the official World Cup soundtrack album alongside fellow Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr, underscoring his role as a global cultural ambassador for African music.

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They still haven’t been rescued, we’re praying to God every day. We’re also praying to God that the government hastens, and you know… My country is going through a lot. We represent everywhere we go.