RismadarVoice Reporters
September 21, 2026
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, says his upcoming three-night residency at the National Theatre in Lagos will demonstrate that African artists can stage major international music events from the continent.
Davido is scheduled to headline the newly renovated National Theatre from December 17 to 19 as part of a residency tagged “Oriadé: The Residency.”
The event will celebrate his latest album, Oriadé, his biggest songs and his 15-year career in the music industry.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, the singer said the residency was designed not only as a concert series but also as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s entertainment infrastructure and the potential of Africa’s creative economy.
“It’s very important that we show the outside world that we have these kinds of facilities in Africa as well. We’re really showing people that we can do this ourselves,” Davido said.
The singer compared the National Theatre to Madison Square Garden in New York, describing the Lagos venue as “our own MSG” because of its historical importance to Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Davido said his decision to bring the residency to Lagos was influenced by his experiences touring different parts of Africa and his desire to reconnect more deeply with fans at home.
“Bringing everything back home is very important for the culture,” he said.
He added that performing in Nigeria gave him a different kind of inspiration.
“Just being home gave me so much inspiration. This kind of feels better doing it from where you’re actually from,” he said.
Davido also said he did not want to spend extended periods away from his Nigerian audience.
“I don’t ever want to take that kind of break away from my fans back home,” he added.
The Afrobeats star said the idea for his National Theatre residency was partly inspired by Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny’s 30-date residency in Puerto Rico in 2025.
According to Davido, the residency demonstrated how a music event could become a wider tourism and economic attraction, benefiting both the artist and the host country.
“It was like a whole tourist attraction,” he said. “The country made money, he made money, and he promoted his culture. So that’s kind of where my head is at.”
Davido believes Lagos has the potential to achieve a similar impact, particularly during the December festive season, when Nigerians living abroad and international tourists visit the city for concerts and other entertainment activities.
He said his residency would feature songs spanning his career, with appearances from some of his collaborators.
The singer also highlighted the abundance of talent in Lagos, saying the city could play an even bigger role in the global entertainment industry.
“The talent in Lagos is mind-blowing. Talent is like water in Lagos,” he said.
Davido also called on African artists who achieve international recognition not to lose touch with the audiences and communities that supported them before they became global stars.
He observed that many successful African artists travel to the United States, United Kingdom and Middle East to perform, but argued that more major events should also be staged on the continent.
“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.”
The singer acknowledged that artists may earn less from performances in Africa compared with some international markets.
However, he said bringing major productions home could create employment opportunities and contribute to the growth of the local entertainment ecosystem.
“We might not get paid as much as we get paid overseas,” he said.
Davido further urged younger African musicians to remain connected to the fans who supported them before they achieved international success.
“Don’t forget where you started,” he said. “These are the fans. If not for these fans, we wouldn’t be here.”
Davido had earlier announced the three-night National Theatre residency on his verified Instagram page, describing the event as a homecoming celebration of his 15-year journey in music.
