On Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown Concert held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Davido made a powerful global statement, which led to Davido’s World Cup protest going viral on the media space.
This event is one of the biggest events that has happened so far in 2026. The crowd was expecting Davido to just sing.
But what they got instead was a man walking onto the stage wearing a black leather jacket covered with customized write-ups of the 39 names of the abducted children in Oyo state on May 15 and have not been home since.
The Jacket That Stopped a Global Concert in Its Tracks
Davido used one of the biggest global stages in football, Davido World Cup Protest, to shine a light on the ongoing crisis in Nigeria, as the children and teachers were still in captivity at the time of the performance. Davido World Cup Protest.
He performed wearing a custom black leather jacket designed with green circular pins/buttons, each bearing the names of the 39 abducted school children and 7 teachers from the May 15, 2026, Oyo State school kidnappings.
‘BRING THEM HOME’ was written boldly in large white letters across the back of the jacket and ‘NIGERIA’ printed in the front of the jacket. Some names of victims who were killed like teacher Michael Oyedokun were marked differently in red.
This brought international attention to the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers from Oyo State which amplifies calls for their safe return over three weeks after the attack.
What Davido Said Backstage Before He Walked Out
Before going on stage, Davido spoke to an interviewer backstage about the situation at home. He explained the emotions behind his choice of clothing. He said that he is praying daily for the safety of the victims and urged the authorities to act fast.
Davido said “Make sure the names are visible… These are innocent children, some of them are just 2, 3 years old. This is not right, man. We have to keep talking about this. Let the world see… Bring them home.”
After walking out to the stage, he gave an extended message to the audience regarding the crisis. He said:
Right now in Nigeria, the kids are abducted… these are the names of the kids and the teachers… and the ones that are red are the ones that lost their lives… may they rest in peace. Bring them home! Pray for peace… peace everywhere. May God be with the families of the abducted and the ones that have been killed. It’s a very very sad situation… they still haven’t been rescued. We’re praying to God every day… and we’re also praying that the government assists in intervention.
Towards the end of his statement, the crowd applaud his effort and it became one of the most talked-about parts of the entire countdown concert.
Final Thoughts on Davido World Cup Protest
Davido’s actions have been widely praised by celebrities, activists, and members of the public for bringing international attention to the crisis. His intervention shows the growing role of entertainers in advocacy and social awareness campaigns. His actions signify how influential public figures can use their platforms to draw attention to humanitarian issues and encourage action beyond the entertainment industry.
Davido did something that no government, press conference, Senate motion, and presidential statement has managed to do. He made the world outside Nigeria feel the weight of 39 missing children and 7 missing teachers. He carried their names across an ocean and into one of the most watched arenas on earth. That matters. But the children are still in the Mandara Mountains. The jacket is beautiful, however the names need to come home.
What do you think of what Davido did at the World Cup concert? And what do you think the Nigerian government should do right now to bring these children home? EasySmallTalk covers politics, entertainment, health, lifestyle, and world news every day. Explore more stories on EasySmallTalk
