By Ayomide Otitoju
Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has announced that his sixth studio album, Oriadé, will be released on July 31, 2026, marking 15 years since he rose to prominence in the music industry.
The award-winning singer unveiled the project during an exclusive interview with Billboard before confirming the announcement on his social media platforms with a cinematic teaser.
In the post, Davido wrote: “ORIADÉ. 31st JULY. The kingdom expands. Chosen long before the throne. Pre-order my new album now.”
The teaser adopts a royal theme, featuring the 33-year-old musician in an embroidered wine-and-black traditional outfit adorned with beads, alongside a throne and crown, symbolising the album’s themes of royalty, purpose and destiny.
Derived from the Yoruba words ori (head or destiny) and adé (crown), Oriadé reflects what Davido describes as a deeply personal chapter in his musical journey.
Reflecting on his career, the singer told Billboard that he always believed music was his calling.
“Over fifteen years ago, I decided to trust something I couldn’t fully explain. I just knew music was my destiny. Oriadé is a celebration of the journey that led me to where I am now,” he said.
“To be in a position where I can help push African music forward around the world is something I’ll never take for granted. I hope when people hear my new album, they understand that purpose doesn’t always follow the expected path. The biggest blessings often come from betting on yourself, even when the destination isn’t in sight yet,” he said.
The singer also described the forthcoming project as a creative homecoming, saying it returns to the authentic Afrobeats sound that launched his career.
“The recent music I’ve been working on is really, really African. I’m taking it back to my original Davido kind of music,” he said.
The 13-track album will be Davido’s shortest studio project to date. His previous albums—Omo Baba Olowo (2012), A Good Time (2019), A Better Time (2020), Timeless (2023) and 5ive (2025)—each featured 17 tracks.
The announcement follows the release of the album’s lead single, I Know Who I Be, which debuted on Friday and officially launched the album campaign.
The project comes after the success of 5ive, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard World Albums chart and earned Davido a fifth consecutive top-five placement. The album featured collaborations with Omah Lay, Chris Brown, Victoria Monét, Becky G, Shenseea and YG Marley, while the Omah Lay-assisted track With You emerged as one of the defining Afrobeats songs of 2025.
The album announcement caps another landmark year for Davido. In April, he made his Coachella debut with a 45-minute performance featuring a surprise appearance by fellow Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold.
He also collaborated with Major Lazer and Nelly Furtado on No Place Like Home, the official soundtrack of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and performed the song at the tournament’s countdown concert in Los Angeles.
