King Charles III declares love for Nigerian pidgin English inspired by Davido’s music

Abdullateef Fowewe

British monarch, King Charles III has opened up on his admiration for Nigerian Pidgin English, revealing that his interest in the language was ignited by Afrobeats sensation, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

King Charles III’s remarks followed the launch of his exclusive playlist, ‘The King’s Music Room’, on Apple Music.

The playlist includes Davido’s hit “Kante” featuring Fave, along with songs from global legends such as Beyoncé, Bob Marley, and Miriam Makeba.

This carefully curated selection showcases the monarch’s deep appreciation for the rich and varied musical heritage of the Commonwealth.

He said, “It is by Nigerian artist, Davido and it’s called ‘Kante’. It also features lyrics in Pidgin which I love in all its forms. I attempted to make a speech in Pidgin when I last visited Nigeria has made me love Pidgin language. Thanks to Afrobeats, it’s becoming even more popular around the world.”

The British king during a 2018 trip to Nigeria, he famously greeted the crowd with “How you dey?” and added, “We de try,” demonstrating his attempt to engage with and embrace the local culture.