Davido, Feminist Coalition make 2021 ‘TIME 100 Next’ list

AFROPOP superstar, Davido, on Wednesday, hit another milestone as he was named one of the next 100 most influential people in the world for 2021 by Time Magazine.

The founders of the Feminist Coalition, Odun Eweniyi, FK Abudu, and Dami Odufuwa, also made the cut for leading the campaign against police brutality in Nigeria during the #EndSARS protest.

The Time revealed the list on their official site on Wednesday.

TIME editor in chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal wrote in his letter to readers saying, “Amid a global pandemic, deepening inequality, systemic injustice and existential questions about truth, democracy and the planet itself, the individuals on this year’s list provide ‘clear-eyed hope,’ as actor, composer and director Lin-Manuel Miranda puts it in his tribute to poet and TIME100 Next honoree Amanda Gorman. ‘They are doctors and scientists fighting COVID-19, advocates pushing for equality and justice, journalists standing up for truth, and artists sharing their visions of present and future.”

The editorial director of the TIME100 Dan Macsai said, “Everyone on this list is poised to make history. And in fact, many already have.”

Davido in his reaction wrote on his social media platforms: ‘Proud to be included in the inaugural #TIME100Next list.”

Meanwhile, the excerpt for the selection of Davido was written by Nigerian rapper and BBNaija Lockdown season 5 winner, Laycon, according to the magazine.

It reads, “Davido is one of the biggest voices in Afrobeats because his music connects with people, often in ways that transcend his expectations. When he released the song “FEM” in 2020, a title that loosely translates to “shut up” in Yoruba, he didn’t know it would become a major #EndSARS protest anthem.

”The youth banded together to demand the government take action to end police brutality in Nigeria last October.

“Officials responded by sending politicians to give speeches. We told the government to keep quiet unless they had something sensible to add to the ethos of “FEM” which was directly relatable at that moment.

“You can tell Davido puts 100% into every song he makes. And the results are clear: his album A Good Time`’ surpassed a billion streams in 2020.”

Meanwhile, the Feminist Coalition were spotlighted by Time Magazine for their role in the protests.

The ladies were at the forefront of the movement to end police brutality in Nigeria.

The group raised more than N140 million ($387,000) to provide food, medical aid, legal aid, and other necessary support for protesters.

“Drawing on their expertise in tech, they raised donations in Bitcoin to offer protesters medical assistance, legal aid and mental-health support. Simultaneously, Feyikemi “FK” Abudu acted quickly, raising funds from both Nigeria and the diaspora to organize food and security arrangements for protesters on the ground,” the magazine said.

“The coalition’s leaders hope their crucial role in the protests demonstrates the importance of having women in leadership.”