Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has said his upcoming three-night residency at the National Theatre in Lagos will demonstrate that African artistes can stage major international-standard music events from home.
Davido is scheduled to headline the renovated National Theatre from December 17 to 19 as part of his “Oriadé: The Residency”, an event that will combine performances from his latest album with some of his biggest hits from a 15-year music career.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, the singer said the decision to bring the residency to Lagos was driven by his desire to reconnect his international success with the audience and culture that supported his career.
“Bringing everything back home is very important for the culture,” Davido said, adding that performing in Nigeria gave him a different kind of inspiration.
The singer said the newly renovated National Theatre was central to his vision. He compared the historic Lagos venue to Madison Square Garden in New York, describing it as an important symbol of Nigeria’s entertainment heritage.
Davido said the residency would also serve as an opportunity to demonstrate to international audiences that Africa possesses facilities capable of hosting major productions.
He said, “It’s very important that we show the outside world that we have these kinds of facilities in Africa as well,” stressing that Africans could organise major entertainment events themselves.
The artiste said his plans were partly influenced by Grammy-winning Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny’s 2025 residency in Puerto Rico. According to Davido, the 30-date residency attracted visitors and generated economic activity beyond the concert venue.
He said he hoped his Lagos residency could similarly contribute to tourism and local businesses, particularly during December, when Lagos attracts Nigerians from the diaspora and international visitors for entertainment and cultural events.
Davido noted that Lagos has abundant artistic talent and described the city’s creative potential as enormous.
The singer also acknowledged that Nigerian artistes can earn more from performances in international markets but argued that returning home with major productions could create jobs and strengthen the local entertainment ecosystem.
He said the global growth of Afrobeats had opened opportunities for African musicians to perform across Europe, North America and the Middle East, but urged artistes not to lose their connection with audiences at home.
According to him, international recognition should be accompanied by efforts to develop the entertainment industry in Africa and create opportunities for people working around the sector.
The residency will also mark a significant point in Davido’s career. The singer rose to prominence with “Dami Duro” and subsequently became one of the prominent Nigerian artistes associated with the international expansion of Afrobeats.
His latest album, “Oriadé,” was released in July 2026 and includes collaborations with several African and international artistes. The residency is expected to feature songs from the album alongside selections from his previous projects.
Davido had earlier announced the three-night event on social media, describing it as a homecoming celebration after 15 years in music. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on September 25, according to the announcement.
The National Theatre, which has undergone major renovation, remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent cultural venues. Its official platform describes the facility as a centre for artistic expression and a symbol of Nigeria’s cultural renaissance.
With the December residency approaching, Davido’s project is expected to combine music, tourism and cultural promotion while placing renewed attention on Nigeria’s capacity to host large-scale international entertainment productions.
