Afrobeats star Davido is a Nigerian samurai in the video for his new single “The Best,” from the 2020 album A Better Time. Shot in Lagos, the video channels the vibe of classic samurai and martial arts films as Davido trains his real-life protege Mayorkun to fight using time-honored techniques from movies like The Karate Kid. The concept also gives them both the opportunity to dress in ceremonial garb and display the similarities between Asian and African cultures while paying homage to the former.
Davido, who’s made inroads to the US in recent years thanks to collaborations with Disclosure and Khalid, Lil Baby, and Nicki Minaj, released his third studio album A Better Time in November, playing on the title of his second album, A Good Time, and employing an international cadre of collaborators ranging from New York’s Nas to South Africa’s Sho Madjozi. Hit-Boy, Tiwa Savage, and Young Thug also appear, among others, as Davido brought fans “a reason to smile and just be happy” during the current unrest affecting not only his native Nigeria but also the whole world. Despite his aim of making escapist party music, his song “Fem” become an unofficial protest anthem after being adopted by the #ENDSARS movement against police brutality.
Watch Davido’s “The Best” video above.