Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has encouraged Nigerian musicians to pay greater attention to the domestic entertainment market rather than concentrating heavily on performances in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Davido made the observation during a recent appearance on The Uncut Podcast, where he discussed the changing reception of Nigerian artistes in international markets. He suggested that the excitement surrounding some Nigerian performers abroad may no longer be as strong as it was several years ago.
The singer said he would like established Nigerian artistes to increasingly return home and perform for audiences in the country.
“In the next 10 years I want the music OGs to come back to Nigeria,” Davido said, adding that there is already “see finish” in London and America.
The expression “see finish” is commonly used to describe a situation where familiarity reduces the novelty or excitement associated with someone. Davido appeared to suggest that Nigerian musicians who frequently perform abroad could benefit from reconnecting with their home audience.
He also recalled a period when numerous Nigerian artistes could attract large crowds in London. According to him, the number of musicians currently able to achieve similar results has declined.
“Three years ago at least 20 artists can come to London and do show and get sold out, but now I can count maybe four or five,” he said.
Davido’s comments come as Afrobeats continues to gain international recognition, with Nigerian artistes increasingly performing at major venues and collaborating with global stars.
His position has also drawn attention to the importance of Nigeria’s domestic concert industry, which provides artistes with opportunities to engage directly with their core fan base while supporting local businesses and entertainment workers.
Davido has remained one of the most prominent figures in the global expansion of Afrobeats since breaking into the mainstream more than a decade ago. His latest remarks highlight the continuing debate over how Nigerian artistes can balance international ambitions with sustained investment in the local music market.
