When Davido announced Oriadé, expectations were inevitably sky-high.
Released on 31 July 2026, Oriadé is Davido’s sixth studio album and his most concise project yet.
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Unlike ‘Omo Baba Olowo’, ‘A Good Time’, ‘A Better Time’, ‘Timeless’ and ‘5ive’, all of which featured 17 tracks, Oriadé trims the excess with just 13 songs, making it arguably his most focused body of work.
In this album, rather than chase trends, Davido uses Oriadé to reflect on where he has been and where he is headed.
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13 Tracks
Oriadé is an album about purpose.
Across its 13 tracks, Davido sings about fame, family, romance, resilience and divine favour. There is less of the carefree extravagance that dominated some of his earlier projects and more gratitude from an artiste who recognises how unlikely his journey has been.
The opening track, ‘On the Road’, immediately establishes the project’s reflective mood. Inspired by his recent 53-show world tour, Davido chronicles the relentless demands of global success while acknowledging the sacrifices that accompany it, especially time away from family.
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‘Amazing Grace’, featuring Ghanaian star Black Sherif, is one of the album’s emotional highlights. Black Sherif’s textured vocals beautifully complement Davido’s melodic delivery, producing a heartfelt love record that feels sincere rather than formulaic.
On ‘Julie’, Davido returns to the romantic Afro-R&B style that has produced classics throughout his career. Produced by Pheelz, ‘Constantly’ celebrates longevity. Davido sings about consistency, survival and success, transforming what could have been another celebratory anthem into a personal testimony.
The lead single ‘I Know Who I Be’, featuring JAZZWRLD and GL Ceejay, injects South African Afro-house and Amapiano influences into the album. It is confident, dance-floor-ready and serves as an affirmation of identity from an artiste who no longer feels the need to explain his place in African music.
‘Gimme Dat Ting’, featuring emerging act NO11, is one of the album’s liveliest offerings. At the same time, ‘B4 B4’ reunites Davido with longtime collaborator Mayorkun alongside rising star FOLA, creating a vibrant Lagos street anthem that bridges generations of Afrobeats talent.
Perhaps the album’s most intimate moment arrives with ‘Already Falling’. Widely regarded as a successor to his 2018 hit ‘Assurance’, the song is a tender dedication to his wife and reminds listeners that vulnerability has always been one of Davido’s greatest artistic strengths.
Another standout is ‘Tell Everybody’, featuring Grammy-winning American singer Leon Thomas. Their chemistry feels effortless, resulting in one of the album’s strongest crossover records.
French-Malian superstar Aya Nakamura brings infectious energy to ‘Yaya’, an Afro-Makossa-infused collaboration that effortlessly blends Yoruba, French and contemporary African pop into one of the project’s most colourful moments.
The closing stretch, ‘Zanzibar’, ‘Guide’ and ‘My Light’ featuring Llona, slows the tempo while deepening the album’s emotional resonance.
Review
At just under an hour, the album never overstays its welcome, avoiding the bloated feel that has affected some contemporary Afrobeats albums.
One of Oriadé’s greatest achievements is the way its collaborations unfold naturally. Despite the star power and a lot of collaborations, Davido remains firmly at the centre of every record.
If there is one criticism to level against Oriadé, it is that Davido rarely ventures beyond his comfort zone.
Listeners hoping for an experimental departure akin to the sonic leaps of some of his contemporaries may find the album relatively safe. Its production rarely surprises, and many songs rely on melodic structures long associated with Davido’s catalogue.
READ ALSO: Davido celebrates release of sixth album ORIADÉ with New York listening party
However, that familiarity is also the album’s greatest strength.
Oriadé is not an attempt to reinvent Afrobeats; it is an affirmation of Davido’s enduring ability to deliver accessible, emotionally resonant pop music at the highest level. Sometimes consistency is a statement in itself.
With Oriadé, Davido does not attempt to rewrite his story. It may also not be Davido’s most adventurous project, but it is among his most cohesive.
Verdict: 7/10
Oriadé is streaming across all streaming platforms
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