He didn’t win a Grammy, but he won over the culture: A review of Davido’s London O2 show.

Show rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OBO, the baddest, 001, or Grammy-nominated artist–whatever you know him as, Davido has been the hot topic on everyone’s lips as he recently received three Grammy Nominations including: Global Music Album for his album Timeless, Global Music Performance for his song FEEL, and Best African Music Performance for his viral hit UNAVAILABLE.

While Davido didn’t win any awards at last night’s Grammy Awards Show, it is certainly not indicative of his impact on the Afrobeats scene and culture as it stands today. Let’s be honest, were we really expecting any sound judgements from the same people who accidentally played Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Water, instead of Tyla’s Water as she went on stage to collect her first Grammy?

Anyway, Grammys shade aside, Davido remains part of the Afrobeats ‘holy trinity’ and his last two shows have definitely affirmed that. With his most recent achievement being his Invasion tour with sensational performances at London’s O2 Arena and the Accor Arena in Paris. So, let’s forget all that Grammy talk for a second, and reminisce on the vibes and enjoyment that Davido brought to London last week.

Long story short, Davido shut it down.

But for those who want all the details…as the lights dimmed and smoke began to fill the stage, the anticipation of the crowd reached boiling point. The O2 arena became a sea of flashlights with screams and cheers of excitement. As faint chants of “OBO, OBO, OBO” began to build, one giant voice completely took over the arena.

It was Davido’s hypeman and cousin, best known as Special Spesh. “When I say OBO, you say baddest” he exclaimed with a voice that could penetrate mountains. The intro was a powerful and emotionally charged premonition for what was to come later on in the show. It almost felt like a prayer, for the delicious treat we were about to receive. As Spesh’s monologue slowly came to a halt, we began to hear the beautiful harmonies of the choir and this was only the beginning.

Davido opened the show with just him, a harness, and his microphone as he descended upon the O2 performing OVER DEM, the title track of his album, Timeless. “If dem wan turn Goliath, I be David for life, Oluwa dey my side o”. This song was certainly a befitting entrance as Davido showed the world that he could conquer the O2 arena (a.k.a the Goliath of venues) not once, not twice, but three times!

Davido’s set list certainly felt timeless, as the artist took the crowd on an emotional rollercoaster, transporting us from the past with the sweet sounds of songs like Aye, to the present with the velvety warmth of songs like KANTE and even giving us a sneak peek into the future with a special guest performance from his newly signed artist–Morravey. Although a little disjointed at times, his setlist definitely showcased how Davido and his iconic raspy voice have managed to stand the test of time.

Davido interacted with the crowd like no other. He somehow managed to make the O2 arena feel like an intimate concert with the way he interacted with his audience. Sometimes even stood right between his fans as he performed songs like LCND (Legends Can Never Die). It was clear his emotions took over as he performed LCND, as you could see the artist really taking a moment to take in the atmosphere and appreciate the amount of Londoners who showed up and showed out for him, especially in this cold weather.

The special guests just kept on coming.

One of the major parts of Davido’s show that truly stood out was his support for other artists. It was clear that this was not just a Davido show, he brought out other talent such as Lagos Olori, Mayorkun, Morravey, Kizz Daniel, Angelique Kidjo, and Kamo Mphela. Rumour has it that even Skepta would’ve turned up had he not have been given the wrong date by Davido’s management.

Many of the artists mentioned were featured on Davido’s Timeless album, but what was amazing was the fact that Davido did not only bring them out to sing those songs. He gave each and every artist the time to also perform some of their own hit singles, which basically gave fans seven shows in one. While some guest performances felt like they went on for one song too many, other guests like Kizz Daniel and Mayorkun were so good they left the crowd wanting an encore. Especially after Davido’s verse on the remix of Kizz Daniel’s Twe Twe.

It was particularly special to see him championing women on the night, as he shared his newly signed artist, Morravey, with us and brought out Amapiano artists like Kamo Mphela. As well as his unforgettable performance of Na Money with the legendary Angelique Kidjo which sent the whole arena into an eruption of cheers. It gave elegance, royalty, and wealth–not just in money but in culture.

Davido x Trapstar London

Speaking of culture…

At this point, he might as well be an honorary Londoner. It was clear to see that Davido definitely celebrates and understands the culture of the African Diaspora living in the UK and more specifically, London. Not only did he choose legendary London-bred band The Compozers to provide the beats and vibes for the night, but he also collaborated with UK streetwear clothing brand Trapstar London, to create merch for the tour. Making him one of the first Afrobeats artists to ever collaborate with a streetwear brand on merch. All proceeds of which are said to be going towards an African Foundation to help young creatives.

These are the kinds of moves that help win over the culture and continue to allow the next generation of creatives and Afrobeats superstars to thrive. So–yes–Davido may not have won a Grammy, but who cares? He’s already doing a lot for the culture.