Last month, we wrote an essay on how new Nigerian pop stars are paying homage to their icons via their songs and song titles. It’s beautiful to see that even the old generation still deems it fit to also pay tribute to the ones that came before them, and Davido has delivered something particularly moving with his latest music video for “10 Kilo.”
Beyond the infectious rhythm and smooth vocals that fans have come to expect, the visual carries a deeper significance of a heartfelt tribute to the late Sound Sultan in the video through his image placed thoughtfully in the background.
This is, in many ways, a continuation of a powerful conversation about love, acceptance, and beauty standards that Sound Sultan championed over a decade ago.
When Sound Sultan released “Orobo” in 2013, he was making a statement art that celebrated fuller-figured women with an unapologetic joy that challenged prevailing beauty standards in Nigerian popular culture. His message was clear: beauty comes in all forms, and love should embrace every shape.
Now, more than a decade later, Davido reflects this sentiment in “10 Kilo,” off his album “Five.” The connection isn’t coincidental. On the track, Davido’s affection turns soft but intense as he sings: “If you leave me I fit run go mad/ Why I no fit leave you my ọrọbọ ten kilo.” It’s a love letter to a fuller-bodied muse wrapped in admiration, a direct lyrical descendant of Sound Sultan’s groundbreaking work.
The power of Davido’s tribute lies in the thematic similarities between the songs and also the deliberate visual homage within the “10 Kilo” music video. By incorporating Sound Sultan’s image into the background, Davido transforms what could have been a simple contemporary love song into something that serves as a bridge connecting two generations of Afrobeats artists who understood that music has the power to reshape societal perceptions.
This visual choice speaks to the deep respect Davido holds for Sound Sultan’s legacy. The late artist was a conscious voice who consistently used his platform to challenge harmful narratives. Davido’s tribute demonstrates the enduring influence of Sound Sultan’s work and the responsibility contemporary artists feel to carry forward meaningful messages.
