Award-winning Nigerian singer, Davido, has been named in 2021 ‘TIME 100 Next’ list.
The singer made the ‘Phenoms’ category of the list alongside American poet, Amanda Gorman, whose rendition thrilled United States President, Joe Biden’s inauguration audience in January.
TIME Magazine, in a blog post written by 2020 BBNaija winner, Olamilekan Agbelese, popularly known as Laycon, said Davido has continued to push for societal change using musical projects which are often relatable.
It cited the impact of ‘FEM’, a single off ‘A Better Time’, Davido’s 2020 album, which became the anthem for #EndSARS protesters during last year’s demonstration against police brutality across the country.
“Davido is one of the biggest voices in Afrobeats because his music connects with people, often in ways that transcend his expectations. When he released the song “FEM” in 2020, a title that loosely translates to “shut up” in Yoruba, he didn’t know it would become a major #EndSARS protest anthem, as youth banded together to demand the government take action to end police brutality in Nigeria last October. Officials responded by sending politicians to give speeches. We told the government to keep quiet unless they had something sensible to add—the ethos of “FEM” was directly relatable to that moment,” he wrote.
Founders of the Feminist Coalition, Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi also made the list in the ‘Advocacy’ category for leading the campaign against police brutality by sourcing funds to provide welfare as well as medical and legal aids to protesters. Feyikemi ‘FK’ Abudu was also listed in the category.
According to the magazine, those selected for the list provided “clear-eyed hope for the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.”
“Amid a global pandemic, deepening inequality, systemic injustice and existential questions about truth, democracy and the planet itself, the individuals on this year’s list provide ‘clear-eyed hope,” it added.
