It is a shame to say that Africa is not well represented on international stages when it comes to the display of cultures and traditions to bring global attention to the motherland.
Nigerian Afrobeats artist and the 2018 BET Best International Act winner Davido is one of the many “ambassadors” of the continent who get the opportunity to walk tall worldwide but forget to carry their cultures with them.
On picking the award last night, Davido played the African representative role perfectly well but didn’t look the part as he said: “My continent is so blessed to influence so many cultures … I am telling you guys, come to Africa, eat the food, wear the clothes.”
He was on point with the statement but looked like a proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing as he wore a black silk shirt, black trousers and black shoes with a white inscription on his shirt promoting “God knows what”. Who is being influenced here?!
Thank you Davido for promoting Africa, but get it right next time and dress the part to invite the world to Africa, African clothes and African food. This goes out to all the young African artists as no one comes clean when it comes to dressing and being African.
Wizkid won the same award last year and the statuette was collected on his behalf by Nigerian artist Ice Prince who donned a leather jacket with an American flag design. The year before that, South African DJ Black Coffee who wore a jean jacket on top of a white long-sleeved shirt won the award. The list goes on and on.
However, older African artists like Angelique Kidjo, Youssou Ndour, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Owuor Arunga, Ali Farka Touré and many others have dressed the part when they represented Africa on the global stage. And, they won the Grammys.
If you missed the African moment non-African looking Davido received his award, see it below:
