Davido’s much-anticipated album, 5ive was released on Friday.
Right from when it was announced, many have sought to engage the work of art eagerly anticipating the quality of songs, lyrical delivery, beats, complements and collaborations.
From Cubana ChiefPriest to Boxing Champ, Anthony Joshua, Only1Kesh to King Concord and a host of others, the showing off of the five fingers made more awareness for the 5ive Album like never before.
An unexpected collaboration emerged just hours before the album release, featuring Davido and one of the world’s leading gaming companies, PlayStation.
In a video post, Davido appeared alongside another act in a playful conversation centred around the number “Five” a clever nod to both his new album and the PlayStation 5 console.
The ad weaves mentions of “Five” throughout the dialogue, as Davido enjoys gaming on the console, accompanied by the featured character in the campaign. The ad campaign met a huge warm reception among fans which indeed led the way to ushering the hearts and ears of millions to 5ive.
After a successful show in Paris, Davido had another few hours until the scheduled release in London, where for the first time the whole album was performed. And with the support of his fans present at the show, there was a five-countdown down to the stroke of midnight as the album was officially released. It was indeed a beautiful moment between Davido and his fans as the much-anticipated body of work was now out for public engagement.
Davido frames 2025’s 5ive as something of a victory lap, not just for his own pursuits, but for the entire contemporary African soundscape. “This is definitely about celebrating longevity and how far we’ve come,” he tells Apple Music.
“It’s been a long, long journey. Afrobeats is in an amazing place. Everybody’s doing well, all the way from South Africa to Ghana to Nigeria. For us to have risen and taken this culture and the music to such heights-we have our own categories at the Grammys, at the Billboard Awards; we have our own festivals selling out more than the festivals in America. It’s crazy. Because of the nature of the whole genre, everybody’s messing with the culture. So, every album is to push Afrobeats further.”
Another noteworthy aspect of this album is how Davido intelligently bridges diverse musical worlds, blending them seamlessly into his own sound. Through collaborations with global stars like Victoria Monét, Shenseea, Tayc, and Dadju, he expands the album’s reach across different genres. He reunites with recurring collaborators like Chris Brown, Musa Keys, and producers Shizzi, Marvey Muzique, and DJ Maphorisa to maintain a familiar yet elevated trajectory of sound. Davido also spotlights rising talent such as Jamaican artist 450, while celebrating Nigeria’s rich musical landscape with features from homegrown acts such as ODUMODUBLVCK, Omah Lay, and Chike. The result is a culturally rich and expansive project that reflects both his global vision and deep roots.
Across social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and a host of others the 5ive fever has been caught. Fans, content creators, influencers and many more have hopped on the trend sharing dance and sing-along videos to songs off the album. Beyond doubt Davido’s influence has been defined and would continue to soar higher than the skies.
As the album finds its way into the charts and the hearts of millions, Davido wants us to be in line with what he hopes to share with the album. He disclosed that, “Legacy is not what you leave behind, but what you breathe into the future.”
Tosin Clegg
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