‘Detty’ concerts that kept Lagos during Yuletide

No doubt, Lagos has become a city of entertainment, especially with the way people come to the city to celebrate Christmas. Every year, the city rocks with various musical concerts and show-stopping events that leave attendees asking for more.

The end of the year marks the beginning of festivals and pulsating celebrations. Christmas in Lagos is often referred to as the climax of the holiday season, as Lagosians start celebrating the yuletide season from the very first day of December.

From concerts featuring major music artistes to festivals that celebrate the rich musical culture of Nigeria, there is always one owambe somewhere. Last December was no difference.

The Experience Lagos, an annual worship/praise concert usually kick-starts the celebration and holds every first Friday of December each year. This year’s edition, 14th in the series was praise like never before, and it held on Friday, December 6, 2019, from 7:00 pm till dawn at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos.

Created by Paul Adefarasin, the Senior Pastor of The House on The Rock, the event is acclaim to be the biggest gospel concert in Nigeria, attracting millions of people from all walks of life who gather for the sake of praise and worship. It is a free all-night gospel concert featuring some of the most celebrated gospel artistes from around the world.

This year, the concert tagged ‘Worship Jesus’ was intriguing, inspiring, sprit-lifting and entertaining as usual. It paraded award-winning gospel artistes like Nathaniel Bassey, Tope Alabi, Don Moen, Todd Dulaney, Chioma Jesus, Eben, Travis Greene, Preye Odede, Planetshakers, Donnie McClurkin, Sinach, Sammie Okposo, Onos and many others.

Just a few hours after being soaked in the unction of grace from God’s presence at The Experience Lagos, many revelers and fans of American rap queen, Cardi B, who storm Lagos and indeed Nigeria for the first held the spellbound with her sexy moves on stage.

The Grammy award-winning rapper is brought the roof down at the Livespot X Festival, which held on Saturday, December 7, in Lagos and Sunday, December 8, 2019, in Lagos and Accra respectively. It was also Cardi B’s first time in Africa. Her fan base in Nigeria dates back to her days of Instagram fame. Her catchphrases like ‘Okurrrr’ and ‘Schmoney’ are part of Nigeria’s pop culture.

While many were still recovering from the hangover of Cardi B’s Livespot X festival, Davido Music World (DMW) artiste, Mayorkun shutdown the city with his performance as he assumed office as the ‘Mayor of Lagos’ with his The Mayor Of Lagos (TMOL) concert, which held on Friday, December 13, 2019.

Like a true Mayor, Mayorkun walked through the maze of security and handlers, and friends who came out to support him. Everywhere went dim, as VJ Ehiz one of the hosts of the night ordered that the lights at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos be ‘killed’.

With the stage screen cued in a countdown, starting from 10, and the crowd catching on to it, the entire hall rang out loud in their screams. As everyone screamed the final count, the singer exploded onto the stage. “Ma shey testimony ti n’ba ra posh…” he opened with energy that embraced the crowd and matched their excitement.

It is no gainsaying, Mayorkun is beloved among his colleagues in the music industry, especially among the elite musicians. The event had an array of the galaxy of stars like Tiwa Savage, Patoranking, Lil Kesh, Ycee, Niniola, L.A.X, Dice Ailes, Falz, Nonso Amadi, Zlatan Ibile, Chinko Ekun, Dapo Tuburna and more, who dominated the night and rocked the stage with Mayorkun

Then came Teni Makanaki with The Billionaire Experience. She thrilled music lovers to an unforgettable music experience at her concert that held on Monday, December 16, 2019, at the Eko Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It was a way the Uyomeyo crooner rounded off the year in grand style and said thank you to her fans after touring 35 cities and performing to thousands of fans from the UK, Canada, and the US. No doubt, the multi-award-winning singer is a box spilling with talents and she is set to wow us with her vivacity this year.

The self-proclaimed ‘Sugar Mummy’, alongside colleagues in the industry, thrilled fans and other guests with doses of her hit songs. She injected her humorous side on the stage as she dished out series of skits during her performances.

Apart from football, music is said and believed to be another tool for reconciliation. This played out last yuletide as Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, two female music powerhouse believed to be rival shared the stage at the grand finale of Flytime Music Festival tagged ‘Everything Savage’, which was headlined by the self-proclaimed number one Africa bad girl.

The sultry diva as fondly called by her fans made history as the first female to headline the show in its 15-year history. The 49-99 hitmaker enlisted the support of other notable music acts like 2Baba, Dr Sid, Reekado Banks, Sean Tizzle, 9ice, Simi among others to make the night a memorable one for revelers.

The biggest surprise of the night was the presence of the ‘Woman of Steel’, Yemi Alade. Before Tiwa brought her on stage, the One crooner revealed that she aims to go into year 2020 on a clean slate and as such felt it was necessary to lay to rest any perceived lingering enmity.

Referring to Alade as her sister and a queen, Tiwa stated that there is nothing but love between them and she hopes the night proves this to everyone. With her hit song, Oh My Gosh blasting from the speakers, the Mama Africa crooner strutted onto the stage to the delight of the crowd as the hall went frenzy in screams of adulation. Both women hugged in what can be considered an iconic moment with Tiwa cheering Alade on as the latter blessed the crowd.

Finishing her set, Alade thanked Tiwa for inviting her to the show, which the later also expressed gratitude that her invitation was honoured. However, in a bid to keep Johnny crooner a little longer on stage, her smash hit song, Johnny came on and she alongside Tiwa performed the song to the delight of the crowd, whilst they showed off their twerking moves amid vocals.

The season review will not be complete without a mention of the legendary music icon 2baba, who made another incredible mark in the history of live performance in Nigeria with his ‘20 Years A King Concert’, which held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at EKO Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Organised by TEC, Achievas Entertainment and Hypertek Digital, the concert was described by attendees as the ‘king of all concerts’ last December following intriguing performances from 2baba and his band members.

Aside 2baba, the night also featured several exciting performances from a-list acts including Wizkid, Patoranking, Terry G, Solidstar, Reekado Banks, 9ice, Ycee, Waje, DJ Jimmy Jatt and Sound Sultan as host among others.

The evening kicked off with the host Sound Sultan performing an acoustic version of his popular early hit Motherland. Shortly after the rendition, he entertained the crowd with a short skit before introducing DJ Jimmy Jatt who kept the crowd moving.

With a mini-documentary detailing his life, music, industry revolution, throwback photos and rise to stardom, which was broadcasted on the giant screens in the hall, 2baba made his grand entry on stage, joining T-boiz, winners of the ‘Next Up Talent’ to perform their single Falling For Me. The crowd couldn’t contain their excitement, as they sang and dance along.

The Amaka Disappoint Me singer performed his considerable hit catalogue: For Instance, Ole, Knock Me off, Only Me, Implication, Nfana Ibaga, and I dey feel like. He wrapped up his first round of performance with an advice for the youths to practice safe sex by using a condom.

Highpoint of the night was when 2baba brought Wizkid onstage for a surprise performance. He performed Ojuelegba and Joro to the delight of the increasingly boisterous crowd. Shortly after his performance, Wizkid said 2baba inspired him to make music.

Despite his many troubles everything Soapy crooner, Naira Marley puts his name to these days is usually met with massive fanfare. In his bid to end his highflying year on an excellent note, the self proclaims king of Marlian Republic, shut down Lagos on December 30, 2019, with his ‘Marlian Fest’, which held at the Eko Convention Center.

When the Puta singer announced the concert, it was met with wild jubilation from his Marlians fans, who have been waiting for him to shake the city with a concert as the last Marlian Fest was held in Ibadan on September 14, 2019.

The Lagos concert may have come and gone but not without leaving behind some talking points. First, the internet was set ablaze when it emerged that fans of the Opotoyi singer who couldn’t afford the ticket fee resorted to scaling fence into the venue of the music festival but were manhandled by military men, who provided security for the show. Some of fans even denounced their Marlian title.

Despite all the controversies that trailed the show, one of the highlights of the show was when popular singer, Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as ‘Wizkid‘ arrived at the event and received a loud jeer.