Veteran Nigerian Highlife musician Bright Chimezie has made a notable return to public attention following a recent interaction with Afrobeats sensation Davido (David Adeleke). The celebrated artist, renowned for his signature “Zigima” sound, was invited to Lagos by Davido, who publicly acknowledged Chimezie’s 1984 classic Because of English as a source of inspiration for his own recently released track With You, featuring Omah Lay.
Their first exchange took place via video call, during which Davido expressed gratitude and admiration for Chimezie’s influence on his musical journey. The connection was later deepened by an in-person meeting in Lagos, documented in social media clips posted on Monday, May 16, where the two artists were seen engaging warmly.
Remarkably, less than two days after their meeting, Chimezie’s Because of English made its debut on the Spotify Nigeria Top 100 chart, landing at No. 99. This marked the first time the decades-old track—and Chimezie himself—had appeared on the streaming platform’s popular chart. The song humorously recounts the singer’s childhood experience of being disciplined at school for his inability to speak English fluently.
Chimezie’s Lagos visit wasn’t just social. According to nightlife figure and Davido associate Cubana Chiefpriest, the Highlife veteran is involved in a creative collaboration with the DMW (Davido Music Worldwide) label head. In one shared video, Davido revealed plans to include Chimezie in a music video project, hinting at a cultural blend of old and new musical styles.
During the visit, Chimezie also connected via video call with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke—Davido’s uncle. The veteran singer made a lighthearted comment about the governor’s famous dance moves, and Davido promised to arrange a personal meeting between them in Osun State.
