World Cup: Davido Wears Bring Them Home Jacket — Obi Reacts

He had the whole world watching. And he used that moment to say something that mattered.

Afrobeats superstar Davido stepped onto the stage at the FIFA World Cup Countdown Concert on June 10 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles wearing a custom black leather jacket designed by stylist Hollyandroo. Across the back of the jacket, in white graffiti lettering, were the words “BRING THEM HOME.” On the front, pins bearing the names of more than 40 abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State were clearly visible.

A Performance That Became a Statement

The jacket instantly became one of the most talked about moments of the entire World Cup opening period. Davido did not just perform at one of the biggest events in global sport. He turned it into a platform for advocacy — drawing international attention to a crisis that had been largely confined to Nigerian headlines.

The performance came as part of the official FIFA World Cup Countdown Concert, which formed part of FIFA Sound’s largest music initiative to date, including an 18 track official World Cup album. Davido features on that album with a collaboration titled “No Place Like Home” alongside Nelly Furtado and Major Lazer.

Peter Obi Responds

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, was among the first prominent Nigerians to respond publicly. In a statement shared on X, Obi described the gesture as “an act of patriotism that transcended mere entertainment.”

“By utilizing his international platform, Davido effectively highlighted Nigeria’s security crisis,” Obi wrote. He added that the state of insecurity across Nigeria deserves urgent international scrutiny, particularly given what he described as the government’s inability to address the situation effectively. Furthermore, Obi noted that Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup stems not from a lack of talent but from a failure of leadership.

What the Moment Means

For the families of the 39 students and 7 teachers still held in captivity from Oyo State, Davido’s jacket did something that weeks of domestic news coverage had not managed to do. It put their children’s names on a global stage, in front of a worldwide audience that had tuned in for football and music.

As a result, the conversation about Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis briefly broke through to an international audience. That is rare. And for a country where over 46 people remain in captivity from a single attack, it was a moment worth having.