Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido has unveiled plans for his first-ever festival in London, where he will not only headline but also curate the entire lineup.
The Grammy-nominated artist shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that Davido & Friends Festival will take place at Crystal Palace Bowl on Friday, August 14. He described the event as his only outdoor performance in London this summer, making it a highly anticipated date for fans.
The festival is included in Palace Bowl Presents, a newly launched concert series running from July 31 to August 16 at the iconic venue. The series will feature a rotating lineup of international headliners across different dates.
Crystal Palace Bowl & Festival
Among those already confirmed are gospel stars Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Kirk Franklin, who are set to headline on August 2.
Davido’s August 14 show is being promoted as a UK festival exclusive, with the rest of the lineup still under wraps. The “& Friends” branding has already sparked speculation among fans about possible surprise guest appearances, though the singer has not revealed any names.
The choice of Crystal Palace Bowl adds significance to the event. Established in 1961, the open-air venue is one of London’s most iconic performance spaces, with a capacity of about 15,000 people. It has hosted major acts over the years, and Davido is set to become one of the few Nigerian artists to headline the stage.
The announcement comes on the back of Davido’s successful fifth studio album 5ive, released in 2025. The project received critical acclaim and reinforced his position as a global Afrobeats force.
One of its standout tracks, With You, featuring Omah Lay, has surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify and earned him a Grammy nomination.
With anticipation building, the full festival lineup—once announced—is expected to draw major attention, further cementing Davido’s growing international influence.
The University of Jos came alive with music, glamour and excitement as Afro Soul sensation Big Chinni delivered a captivating performance at the Mr & Miss UNIJOS 2026 pageant, one of the institution’s most anticipated annual social events.
The event, held on the University of Jos campus, attracted hundreds of students, alumni and guests who gathered to witness the crowning of the institution’s new king and queen and to celebrate creativity, fashion and student excellence.
Big Chinni thrilled the audience with an energetic Afro Soul performance, delivering a blend of soulful melodies and vibrant stagecraft that kept the crowd singing and dancing throughout her set. Her performance added excitement to an evening dedicated to showcasing talent, confidence and youthful creativity.
The pageant, widely regarded as a flagship event on the university’s social calendar, featured dazzling fashion displays, entertainment performances and competitive segments leading to the emergence of the new Mr & Miss UNIJOS 2026.
The event was powered by NASCO Cornflakes, one of Nigeria’s leading breakfast cereal brands, whose colourful branding featured prominently across the venue, including the red carpet and main stage. The company’s support underscored its commitment to promoting youth development, campus engagement and student-focused initiatives.
Organisers said the collaboration between NASCO Cornflakes and the pageant reflected a shared vision of celebrating excellence, talent and the vibrant lifestyle of young people.
With her memorable performance, Big Chinni further strengthened her growing reputation as one of the emerging voices in the Afro Soul music scene, leaving the audience entertained and making the 2026 edition of Mr & Miss UNIJOS one of the most talked-about campus events of the year.
The Joint Gospel Arts and Music Awards (JOGAMA–GREEN AWARDS) has officially opened submissions for the 16th edition of its annual awards, inviting gospel creatives from across Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to submit their works for consideration.
The submission window opens on Monday, 13 July 2026 and closes on Sunday, 9 August 2026.
Award Categories
Eligible entries are invited in the following categories:
Song of the Year
Artiste of the Year
Male Artiste of the Year
Female Artiste of the Year
Group of the Year
Dance Group of the Year
Video of the Year
Video Director of the Year
Audio Producer of the Year
Indigenous Traditional Song of the Year (songs performed purely in indigenous dialect or Hausa)
Indigenous Traditional Fusion Song of the Year (songs combining indigenous dialect, Hausa and English)
Afro Hip Hop Song of the Year (Rap)
Short Film of the Year
Collaboration of the Year
Next Rated Artiste of the Year
Album of the Year
Graphics Designer of the Year
New Artiste of the Year
Gospel Comedian of the Year
Spoken Word Artiste of the Year
Middle Belt Artiste of the Year
North West Artiste of the Year
North East Artiste of the Year
Submission Criteria
To qualify, entries must meet the following requirements:
Content must be gospel.
Content must have been released between January 2025 and June 2026.
Content must be available on at least one streaming platform.
Entries must include duplicate copies of recent photographs of the content creator.
Content artwork must accompany the submission.
The content creator must reside in Northern Nigeria or the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
How to Submit
Participants can submit their entries by email or through the official online nomination form.