Artistes and organisers are gearing up for the 10th edition of Make Music Lagos, as excitement builds nationwide for the city-focused celebration that has grown into a major festival spotlighting Nigerian music and talent. Top artistes like ace rapper MI Abaga and alternative soul sensation Johnny Drille have already thrown their weight behind the event, which is set to run from Sunday, June 15 to June 22, 2025.
Speaking at the event held at the Michael Adenuga Centre / Alliance Française de Lagos in Ikoyi, Adeola Akinyemi, director of Make Music Nigeria, noted that the Make Music Lagos festival held in partnership with Alliance Française has grown into an expansive, inclusive, and globally connected initiative, now reaching cities such as Abuja, Ilorin, Imo, Jos, and Uyo
She said, “We’ve learned how collaboration can make a small thing big,” said one organiser. “How many small drops can make a mighty ocean.”The festival, which originated as a replication of France’s Fête de la Musique, has grown beyond mere performances to represent a national movement.
According to her “We started to replicate France’s Fête de la Musique, which is music in every corner of the city, “Now, we’re not just giving as we’re receiving. We’ve connected artists, stakeholders, and seen small initiatives become mighty.”
She buttressed that Inclusivity remains the heartbeat of the festival’s mission. “Every human being loves one kind of music or the other. That’s my hypothesis. “Music is a universal right, not a privilege.” This philosophy has inspired free, city-wide events accessible to people from all walks of life, reinforcing the belief that music belongs to everyone.
A standout feature of this year’s edition is the “Taking Flight” Rhythmic Relay, a global music relay uniting eight countries in a single, simultaneous performance.
“Nigeria has a slot in the global rhythmic relay. It’s a relay where music passes from Jamaica to Australia to Nigeria! The audience even becomes part of the choir.”
Make Music Lagos has also emerged as a powerful platform for career development. The Battle of the Bands competition has launched multiple musical journeys, including that of last year’s winners, The Endless Men. “They grew exponentially working with the French Embassy and NBA Africa,” organisers said.
“This year’s prize money is bigger, and the audience gets to vote live!” To support rising talent, the New Music Marathon and Album Listening Party will create 66th affordable ways for new artists to showcase their work by partnering with media houses to get airtime which help reduced the cost on the artists.
This year’s headliners speak to the festival’s growth and credibility. M.I. Abaga while Johnny Drille, who performed at the inaugural festival in 2017. The Organising partner, Make Music Lagos, Shola Mogaji noted that the festival also nurtures future-facing innovation.
“We’re launching a block chain platform for music education,So you can learn from anywhere.” Other tech-driven initiatives include workshops on using software for music creation and wellness programs tailored for musicians.”
