By Enitan Abdultawab
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has fired back at Hausa singer Dauda Rarara after the latter criticised him for using the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles to spotlight Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.
The exchange began after Rarara described Davido’s action as “barbaric,” accusing the singer of embarrassing Nigeria before a global audience.
Davido had performed at the World Cup countdown event on June 10 wearing a customised jacket bearing the inscription “Bring Them Home” and the names of more than 40 schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.
The gesture, which drew international attention to the victims’ plight, was praised by several Nigerians, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
However, Rarara, who usually performs at APC events, faulted the move in a video posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday.
“I do not usually reply or react to issues like this, but what Davido did was barbaric,” Rarara said.
“How can you promote Ansaru terrorists or insecurity-related issues to the whole world? How can you take a sensitive national security issue and project it to the world in a way that could damage the country’s image?”
The singer also questioned Davido’s motives, alleging that the Afrobeats star was politicising insecurity because of his family’s political interests.
“Is it because his uncle is contesting an election on Accord Party and Tinubu is in APC? Is that why insecurity must become a campaign tool?” he asked.
Reacting on X on Wednesday, Davido appeared to mock Rarara by quoting the video and replying with a single word: “Debidooo.”
The response quickly drew reactions online, with many interpreting it as a playful jab at the Hausa pronunciation of his name.
Rarara did not let the comment slide, responding with the phrase “Kashiga taitayinka,” a derogatory Hausa expression loosely translated as “Come back to your senses.”
Davido then escalated the exchange with a direct response in Hausa.
“Da ace kana da ilimi da na tsaya nayi magana dakai. Ama komai baka sani ba, sakarai kawai,” he wrote.
The statement translates to: “If only you had knowledge, I would have stopped to speak with you. But you know nothing, just a fool.”
