State backs Make Music Lagos festival

It is third time lucky as it has received support from Lagos state. Showgear, the company in charge of organising the event, has announced that Lagos state will officially join in the music celebration come June when Make Music Lagos takes place in the city.

"We are excited about the endorsement of the festival by the Lagos state government, which is a big seal of approval on the festival," Adeola Akinyemi, chief operating officer of Showgear, said.

As Make Music Lagos is the city’s version of an event that takes place around the world, the event joins events such as Runway Jazz and the Lagos Jazz Series, both of which have been supported in some way by government elements.

Across the world, more than 100 countries will gather to celebrate World Music Day on 21 June under the guidance of the US-based Make Music Alliance.

Make Music Lagos festival has now held two events, the inaugural of which featured a number of artists including Bez, Cobhams Asuquo, Tosin Martins, Olufunmi, Wura Samba, Johnny Drille, Pita, Wole Oni and the Lagos Mainland Choir.

A statement from Showgear says that by 2017 more concert venues were added to the programme and “three landmark music initiatives” – Mass Appeal, Learn to Play and Street Studio – were also featured. The performers last year were King Sunny Ade, Daddy Showkey, Adewale Ayuba, Omawumi, Bez, Sound Sultan, Morayo Music and Folabi Nuel.

The full line-up for this year is yet to be announced but Showgear has said its “crew is upping the ante with a full slate of events across the month of June”.

A performance of this year’s theme song will take place on 17 June at the JJT Park in Alausa, Lagos. From 19 to 20 June, Learn to Play, a music instruments teaching initiative, will take place at the Lagos State Education District 1, Agege in Lagos.

On 21 June, DJ Jimmy Jatt and others will tutor some aspiring DJs. Several concerts will be hosted across Lagos on 21 June. The finale will take place at Muri Okunola on 24 June, where Lagbaja and Waje, among others, will perform.

For updates, visit the Make Music Lagos website.