Burna Boy and Davido Shake Hands at Zlatan Ibile’s Bachelor Party in Lagos After Years of Public Tension

October 25, 2026 | Mr. Hella Media

Two of Afrobeats’ biggest international stars, Burna Boy and Davido, have sparked renewed discussion about their longstanding rivalry after footage surfaced showing the Nigerian musicians greeting each other at a private celebration in Lagos.

The unexpected encounter reportedly took place during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s bachelor party, where both artists were among the guests attending the festivities. In a video circulating across social media, Burna Boy and Davido can be seen acknowledging one another and exchanging a handshake, a relatively brief interaction that quickly attracted attention because of their complicated history.

For years, the two musicians have been at the center of public disagreements, competitive comparisons and occasional exchanges that fueled speculation about the state of their relationship. Although their rivalry has sometimes been amplified by fan communities, both artists have made remarks that contributed to the perception of tension between them.

The latest footage represents a notable change in their public interactions, particularly because the greeting appeared to occur naturally during a social gathering rather than as part of a staged performance or promotional event.

However, neither artist has publicly confirmed that the handshake represents a formal reconciliation.

The Handshake Happened Ahead of Zlatan Ibile’s Wedding

According to Pulse Nigeria, the encounter occurred Thursday night, October 22, inside a Lagos nightclub as friends and fellow entertainers gathered to celebrate Zlatan Ibile ahead of his wedding to longtime partner Davita Lamai.

Video circulating on X shows Burna Boy and Davido exchanging a handshake in the crowded venue. The interaction was brief, but it was enough to generate widespread speculation about whether the two musicians had finally resolved their differences.

Some online reports went further, claiming that Burna Boy and Davido later entered an upstairs room for a private conversation while members of their respective entourages waited outside.

However, that account has not been independently verified. Neither artist has confirmed that a private meeting occurred, and the circulating handshake footage does not establish that they held a longer discussion.

Zlatan Ibile Has Strong Musical Ties to Both Artists

The setting was particularly meaningful because Zlatan has longstanding relationships with both performers.

Davido collaborated with Zlatan on the 2018 single “Osanle,” while Burna Boy joined forces with the rapper on “Killin Dem,” one of the defining songs of Zlatan’s early career.

Released during the period when Afrobeats was expanding its international reach, “Killin Dem” became a major success and won Best Collaboration at the 2019 Headies Awards.

Those collaborations helped establish Zlatan as an important figure within Nigeria’s contemporary music scene and placed him in the same professional circles as both superstars.

His bachelor party therefore provided an opportunity for the two artists to encounter one another in a setting centered on a mutual friend rather than their own rivalry.

Zlatan’s wedding celebrations with Davita Lamai were scheduled for Saturday, October 24, making the gathering part of a major personal milestone for the rapper.

Burna Boy and Davido Were Friends Before Their Public Fallout

Although their relationship is frequently discussed in terms of rivalry, Burna Boy and Davido were connected long before either became an international superstar.

Davido has previously said that the two met around 2010, during the early stages of their music careers.

Their professional relationship included collaborations and appearances in each other’s creative projects. Davido contributed to “Trumpet,” a recording from Burna Boy’s early catalog, while Burna Boy appeared in the music video for Davido’s breakthrough hit “Dami Duro.”

As both artists became increasingly successful, their careers developed into separate global brands.

Davido emerged as one of Nigeria’s biggest hitmakers, while Burna Boy established himself as a Grammy-winning performer whose music reached audiences across Africa, Europe and North America.

Their growing international profiles also intensified comparisons between them, with fans frequently debating album sales, streaming numbers, awards and cultural influence.

However, the rivalry was not always limited to fan speculation. Public comments and social media exchanges eventually contributed to a more complicated relationship.

Their Rivalry Became Public Around 2020

Tensions between Burna Boy and Davido became especially visible in 2020, when social media posts and music releases prompted widespread speculation about disagreements between the two performers.

That September, Davido released “FEM,” a song containing a reference to “Odogwu,” a nickname closely associated with Burna Boy.

Many listeners interpreted the lyric as a direct response to Burna Boy, although Davido later disputed that interpretation.

During an interview with Nigerian television personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Davido explained that he considered Burna Boy a brother and had known him for years.

He maintained that the reference in “FEM” was not intended as an attack, describing it instead as an invitation for Burna Boy to contact him.

The relationship attracted further attention in December 2020, when reports emerged about an alleged confrontation involving the two artists at a nightclub in Ghana.

Those reports suggested that tensions had escalated while both musicians were visiting the country. However, the precise circumstances remained disputed, and no publicly verified footage established that the artists physically fought.

The incident nevertheless became a major talking point among Afrobeats fans and entertainment outlets.

Burna Boy Previously Suggested They Had Resolved Their Differences

Thursday’s handshake was not the first indication that Burna Boy and Davido might be moving toward a more peaceful relationship.

In late 2021, Burna Boy publicly suggested that the disagreement between them had been resolved.

In a social media statement, he said he no longer had issues with Davido and encouraged people to show one another more love.

The comments briefly raised hopes that the two performers had put their rivalry behind them.

However, subsequent social media exchanges suggested that their relationship remained complicated.

In February 2024, Burna Boy became involved in an online disagreement with a Davido supporter and made a disparaging remark about the singer, bringing renewed attention to their previous disputes.

That history helps explain why the latest handshake has attracted such a strong reaction. Fans have seen apparent signs of reconciliation before, only for tensions to resurface later.

Fans React to Possible Reconciliation Between Afrobeats Superstars

As the nightclub footage circulated, fans began discussing whether the greeting represented a genuine turning point.

Some interpreted the handshake as evidence that the artists had decided to move beyond their past disagreements. Others cautioned that a brief public interaction does not necessarily indicate a restored friendship.

The moment also generated humorous reactions online, with fans joking about the possibility that two of Afrobeats’ most frequently compared performers were finally on friendly terms.

Their supporters have spent years debating which artist has had the greater influence on Nigerian music’s international expansion.

Those discussions have often placed Burna Boy and Davido in direct competition, despite their different musical approaches and substantial individual accomplishments.

A lasting reconciliation could potentially change the tone of those conversations, although there is currently no indication that either artist intends to make a public announcement about their relationship.

Could a Reconciliation Lead to New Music?

The possibility of Burna Boy and Davido repairing their relationship has also revived interest in whether they might collaborate again.

Both artists have played major roles in expanding the global audience for Nigerian popular music, and a new collaboration would likely attract significant attention.

Their careers have followed different creative paths, with Burna Boy frequently incorporating Afro-fusion, dancehall and reggae influences while Davido has built a catalog centered on Afrobeats, pop and dance-oriented records.

A joint project could bring together two distinct approaches to contemporary African music.

However, there is no confirmed evidence that the artists have discussed recording together, and neither has announced a collaboration.

For now, suggestions about a future song or performance remain speculation.

Neither Artist Has Confirmed the Feud Is Over

As of October 25, neither Burna Boy nor Davido has publicly confirmed that Thursday’s encounter marked an official reconciliation.

The available footage establishes that the two artists greeted each other during Zlatan Ibile’s bachelor party. Reports about an additional private conversation remain unverified.

Still, the moment carries significance because of the years of public tension surrounding their relationship.

Both artists have become major representatives of Nigerian music internationally, and their interactions continue to attract attention far beyond their home country.

Whether the handshake represents a lasting change or simply a respectful greeting at a mutual friend’s celebration remains unclear.

What is certain is that the two Afrobeats stars were willing to acknowledge one another publicly, offering fans a rare moment of cordiality after years of speculation about their relationship.

For an encounter that lasted only a few seconds, the reaction demonstrates just how closely audiences continue to follow the personal and professional dynamics between two of Africa’s biggest music stars.