Nigerian Afrobeats starDavido has opened up about the powerful message behind the customised jacket he wore during his performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 11 June 2026.
The singer appeared on one of football's biggest global stages wearing pins bearing the names of 39 abducted children and seven teachers from Nigeria. The tribute quickly went viral, drawing praise for using a major international event to spotlight the country's ongoing security crisis.
Speaking to Waihiga Mwaura on BBC Africa's Focus on Africa, Davido said the decision was intentional, explaining that he wanted to use his platform to highlight an issue many people are reluctant to discuss.
"A lot of people don't really want to talk about what happens or goes on in my country simply because you want to protect the image. But there's no image to protect if little kids are being kidnapped."
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Using a global stage to tell Nigeria's story
Asked by Waihiga why it was important to send that message to the world during such a high-profile performance, Davido said he believed entertainment and advocacy could go hand in hand.
While describing the World Cup performance as a career milestone, he said he could not ignore the realities facing families back home.
"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."
The singer said every public figure has a different way of influencing conversations, and music has become his vehicle for raising awareness.
"My power is in music performances. We have the students who have been missing, still not found. I use my platform to project what's really going on."
Drawing attention to a long-running crisis
The names displayed on Davido's jacket represented children and teachers abducted during attacks on schools in Nigeria, incidents that have become one of the country's most pressing security challenges.
Over the past decade, armed groups have carried out repeated mass kidnappings of students, particularly in northern Nigeria. While many victims have eventually regained their freedom through rescue operations or negotiations, others remain unaccounted for, leaving families still searching for answers.
International organisations, including UNICEF, have repeatedly warned that attacks on schools threaten children's right to education and create long-term psychological trauma for learners, teachers and communities.
Davido's appearance at the opening ceremony ensured that the plight of Nigeria's abducted schoolchildren reached millions of viewers worldwide, turning a moment of global entertainment into one of reflection and advocacy.
