Famous Hausa praise singer Dauda Adamu Kahutu, popularly known as Rarara, has heavily criticized Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, accusing him of projecting Nigeria’s image in a bad light on the global stage. Rarara’s criticism follows Davido’s performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert held at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
The multi-award-winning pop star used the high-profile platform to raise awareness about insecurity in Nigeria, appearing on stage in a custom jacket bearing the inscription “Bring Them Home.” The outfit featured pins listing the names of more than 40 school children and teachers who were recently abducted in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Expressing his displeasure, Rarara argued that displaying Nigeria’s internal security challenges at an international event of that magnitude was uncalled for. He claimed such a move devalues the nation’s reputation in the eyes of the international community. ”While the issue of insecurity is a painful reality we are battling, using a global platform like the FIFA World Cup countdown concert to advertise our challenges does more harm than good to our image,” Rarara reportedly stated.
“It portrays Nigeria negatively to potential foreign tourists and investors.” Davido’s global advocacy has sparked a heated debate across social media, dividing Nigerians along different lines. Many praised the Afrobeats star for using his massive global reach to spotlight the plight of vulnerable citizens and pressure authorities to act.
Others agreed with the Kannywood singer, suggesting that international events should strictly celebrate Nigerian excellence and culture rather than broadcast domestic crises. At the time of filing this report, Davido’s management has not issued an official response to Rarara’s accusations.
