Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To celebrate the release of his fourth studio album, Nigerian music star, David Adeleke, otherwise known as Davido, has been given the opportunity to choose some Afrobeats songs he considers timeless.
After a long hiatus, OBO, as the singer is also fondly called, announced to his fans on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, that he would release his fourth solo full-length album titled Timeless.
To prepare fans for the album’s arrival, Davido has curated a playlist of Afrobeats tracks. This contains some of the defining songs of the Afrobeats era, including hits by his peers, Wizkid, Tekno and Mr Eazi.
The playlist also includes some of the most familiar classics from Afrobeats’ golden era, with songs by Sunny Neji, 2baba and Naeto C, as well as foundational tracks that have inspired multiple generations of Afrobeats acts, including Fela Kuti’s Zombie.
Speaking about the playlist, Spotify’s Head of Music for Africa, Ms Phiona Okumu, said, “Davido represents the audacity, consistency and huge reach of Afrobeats, and we’re glad to herald his new body of work by joining him in highlighting some of the most enduring contributions by Afrobeats acts to our musical canon over the years.”
Recall that the last time Davido made a public appearance was at the finals of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar in December, where he performed.
In his social media post yesterday, he disclosed that the album, which follows 2020’s A Better Time, is scheduled to hit digital stores on March 31.
Davido is one of the global faces of African music. Over the course of a decade and some, he has gone from the Afropop wunderkind who announced himself with Dami Duro and Back When to a global icon. With three studio albums under his belt, the singer boasts hits like Aye, If and Fall.
Next to a list of solo hits and guest verses that could outlast any jam session, Davido is also one of the most prolific cross-continental ambassadors and crossover artists in Afrobeats. His list of collaborators includes artists like Sauti Sol, Focalistic and Kidi, as well as North American stars like Nicki Minaj, Lil Baby, Young Thug and Nas.
The album announcement makes good on Davido’s promise to ‘see his fans in March’, and there’s a feeling that it’ll be well worth the wait.
