Davido wore a jacket listing over 40 kidnapped schoolchildren at a global FIFA concert. A prominent Hausa singer called him 'barbaric' for it. The Afrobeats star didn't stay quiet.
The exchange started after David Adeleke — known worldwide as Davido — performed at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles on June 10. He wore a custom jacket with the words 'Bring Them Home' and the names of schoolchildren and teachers abducted on May 15 from Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State. Some of the victims were killed in the attack. Others are still in captivity.
Dauda Rarara, a singer closely linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress, didn't like it. In a video posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, he accused Davido of damaging Nigeria's image.
'How can you promote Ansaru terrorists or insecurity-related issues to the whole world?' Rarara said. 'How can you take a sensitive national security issue and project it to the world in a way that could damage the country's image?'
Rarara went further. He alleged Davido was playing politics — trying to help his uncle, who's contesting an election on the platform of the Accord Party, and to paint the current administration in a bad light.
'Is it because his uncle is contesting an election on Accord Party and Tinubu is in APC?' Rarara asked. 'Anyone who campaigns with insecurity is insane.'
He also claimed the abduction followed the arrest of some terrorists by security operatives. In his view, Davido's action could help the kidnappers.
'You can't go to China and promote issues the authorities don't want promoted,' Rarara said. 'Some content creators are sponsored by politicians, while others are simply chasing engagement.'
Davido responded on X. He quoted Rarara's post and replied with one word: 'Debidooo' — a mocking reference to how his name is pronounced in Hausa.
Rarara shot back with 'Kashiga taitayinka,' a derogatory Hausa phrase telling Davido to come to his senses.
Davido didn't stop there. He replied again in Hausa: 'Da ace kana da ilimi da na tsaya nayi magana dakai. Ama komai baka sani ba, sakarai kawai.' Translation: 'If only you had knowledge, I would have stopped to speak with you. But you know nothing, you are just a fool.'
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Party, had earlier praised Davido's gesture. But Rarara's criticism has now turned the conversation into a full-blown public clash.
Rarara compared Davido's action to 'removing his own mother's wrapper, taking a photograph of her and travelling to America to display it for the whole world to see, only to ask people to help cover her up again.'
Davido hasn't commented further since his Hausa retort. But the message was clear: he believes using a global platform to speak about kidnapped children isn't shameful — it's necessary.