Nigerian music star, Davido, has unveiled the official video for With You, his chart-topping collaboration with Omah Lay, featuring a surprise cameo from highlife legend Bright Chimezie—whose music directly inspired the song.
The video was shot in Lagos and directed by Dammy Twitch. It has already garnered over one million views within 24 hours of release.
Produced by Polar Films Production, the visuals are steeped in a vibrant, party-like atmosphere, capturing scenes of youthful celebration with Davido and Omah Lay at the heart of the action.
Midway through the video, Bright Chimezie appears, wearing a Hamlet-style cap and a white bead necklace, performing his signature dance moves.
The cameo echoes a viral moment earlier this year when Chimezie publicly acknowledged that Davido sampled his track Because of English in With You. Cubana Chief Priest also makes a brief appearance in the video.
The visuals pay tribute to the song’s highlife roots. In one standout scene, Chimezie mimics Davido’s dance steps—a symbolic gesture that fans have praised as a representation of mutual respect and generational artistic exchange.
Because of English, which inspired With You, is one of the most notable tracks from Chimezie’s 2018 self-titled album.
The song recounts his experience of being punished by a schoolteacher for not speaking English, offering commentary on linguistic marginalisation.
“The latest hit I just did with Omah Lay, I used inspiration from your song, Because of English,” Davido said to Chimezie during a FaceTime call that later went viral. “It’s trending everywhere, the whole world.”
Chimezie responded warmly, saying, “Okay, that would be wonderful, that would be nice,” as Davido expressed his intent to meet him in Lagos and show appreciation.
That meeting took place on May 19 in Lagos, marking a symbolic moment between two generations of Nigerian music. Not long after, Chimezie signed a deal with Sony Music Publishing West Africa—an achievement many have credited to the revived interest sparked by Davido’s public tribute.
Further buzz was generated by content creator Dikeh Dikeh, whose comic reenactment of Chimezie’s reaction to the tribute went viral in May, boosting Chimezie’s popularity among Gen Z audiences.
With You is one of 17 tracks from Davido’s fifth studio album, 5ive. The singer is currently preparing for his 5ive Alive tour, which kicks off in July.
Chimezie, who began his career in 1984 with Respect Africa and later released albums such as Life of Yesterday and Message Boy, continues to be a revered figure in the evolution of Igbo highlife.
