Pauline OdhiamboThe boundaries between global pop and gospel continue to blur, and the latest proof arrives on Kirk Franklin's sprawling double album, ‘I Am What I Am’ featuring Afrobeats star Davido.
On the standout focus track "Hope In You," the 20-time Grammy-winning gospel legend trades verses with the Nigerian artist, creating a conversation about faith that spans continents and dialects.
Rather than forcing Davido into a traditional gospel mold, the collaboration lets both artists explore their own styles.
Franklin, 56, confessed spiritual doubt, saying: "I lose hope, but I keep it to myself / 'Cause no one cares what you go through"—before Davido answers in the Pidgin and Yoruba of a typical Lagos prayer service.
The Afrobeats star prays against "enter one chance" (Nigerian slang for falling victim to a scam) and declares "Hallelujah meje meje," grounding the divine plea in everyday Nigerian reality.
While neither artist has issued a personal statement on their own feeds, the collaboration has been amplified across social platforms.
The performance platform ‘From The Block’ announced the duo's live rendition, with the clip surpassing 100,000 views in 10 hours.
‘Lagos to the world’
Franklin had previously teased the project on Instagram, writing: "Grateful for every feature on this album."
The partnership is part of a surging wave of Nigerian-Western collaborations.
Earlier this year, Afrobeats star Asake joined forces with French star Tiakola for the track "Badman Gangsta," while French and Nigerian songwriters convened in Lagos for the AFROCROISER camp, producing over 60 cross-cultural tracks.
Some industry observers note that the blueprint for these collaborations was set by global hits like Wizkid's "Essence" with Tems, and Justin Bieber and Burna Boy's "Last Last" sampling Toni Braxton —proof that Lagos-to-the-world pipelines now define pop's mainstream.
For Franklin, the collaboration is an extension of a career spent blending sacred and secular, from his God's Property era to his appearance on Kanye West's "Ultralight Beam"—the very song that featured Franklin years before 33-year-old Davido borrowed West's Sunday Service Choir for his 2022 single "Stand Strong."
