Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido on Wednesday drew global attention to the plight of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers by wearing a jacket bearing their names during his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown Concert in Los Angeles.
The Grammy-nominated artist performed alongside America Foster; Major Lazer, the electronic music group founded by producer and DJ Diplo and known for global hits such as Lean On and Cold Water; as well as Diplo himself, at the Crypto.com Arena.
Fans gathered in downtown Los Angeles for the evening show, part of a multinational celebration marking the buildup to football’s biggest tournament.
The event is one of three simultaneous FIFA Countdown Concerts held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
America Foster and Davido perform with Major Lazer and Diplo at Crypto.com Arena on June 10, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison
Davido’s performance comes against the backdrop of a tragic incident in Oyo State, where armed bandits attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, abducting pupils and teachers, including a vice-principal.
One teacher was killed during the attack, while another abducted teacher was later killed by the abductors.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers staging solidarity protests and teachers in Oyo State embarking on an indefinite strike.
The concert was not the first time the Afrobeats star would be lending his voice to the state of security in Nigeria.
In a recent post on his X handle, the singer lamented the rising wave of kidnappings and urged other entertainers to use their platforms to speak out.
“I’m weak. God, please take control; we can’t continue like this… My heart goes out to the victims and families… I can’t lie, we entertainers, including me, need to speak up,” he wrote.
His comments sparked wider reactions from celebrities like content creator and actress Kiekie; comedian and filmmaker AY Makun; and Tiwa Savage.
