African music icon Davido has once again highlighted the creative influence of South African producers, revealing that his collaboration with JAZZWRLD and GL_Ceejay on his latest album Oriadé was driven by a long-standing admiration for their sound and musical innovation.
The track, “I Know Who I Be,” sees the Nigerian superstar blend his signature Afrobeat style with the rich textures of South African electronic music, resulting in a record that celebrates the growing creative exchange between two of Africa’s biggest music markets.
Speaking about the collaboration, Davido explained why working with South African producers continues to inspire him.
“I’ve been making music with South Africans from the beginning of my career and they always have a way to create new sounds, from amapiano to Afro-house. I’ve wanted to work with Jazzworx [who rebranded himself as JAZZWRLD in 2025] for a long time since I’m a big fan, so I hit him up. He sent me this track and I put my own Afrobeat twist on it. It was as simple as that.”
For South African fans, the collaboration is another reminder of the country’s growing influence on the global music landscape. Once known primarily for house music and kwaito, South Africa has become one of the continent’s leading exporters of fresh sounds, with amapiano evolving into a worldwide movement while Afro-house continues to find audiences across Europe, North America and the rest of Africa.
JAZZWRLD, formerly known as Jazzworx before adopting his new artistic identity in 2025, has built a reputation for crafting emotionally rich productions that fuse soulful melodies with sophisticated Afro-house rhythms. Alongside producer GL_Ceejay, the pair have become respected collaborators whose production style continues to attract artists beyond South Africa’s borders.
Rather than forcing an unlikely fusion, “I Know Who I Be” demonstrates how naturally Afrobeat and South African dance music can coexist. Davido’s melodic delivery sits comfortably over the atmospheric production, creating a song that feels equally at home on streaming playlists and dance floors.
The collaboration also reflects a broader trend within African music, where geographical boundaries are becoming less relevant. Nigerian artists continue to embrace South African production, while South African musicians increasingly collaborate with West African stars, creating records that speak to audiences across the continent.
For Davido, the process was refreshingly straightforward. Instead of lengthy studio sessions or complex negotiations, the collaboration began with a simple message to a producer he admired. After receiving the instrumental from JAZZWRLD, he added his unmistakable Afrobeat flavour, allowing both musical identities to shine without compromising either sound.
As Oriadé reaches listeners around the world, “I Know Who I Be” stands as another example of how collaboration remains one of African music’s greatest strengths. It is a meeting of cultures, genres and creative minds that continues to push the continent’s sound into exciting new territory.
With artists like Davido and producers such as JAZZWRLD and GL_Ceejay continuing to bridge musical worlds, African music’s next chapter looks increasingly collaborative—and increasingly global.
