The night kicked off with solid security and an entry process that was, from my end, entirely seamless. From the jump, it was clear that the crowd understood the assignment; the fashion was undeniably lit. When Mavo said "sexy girls from my city Lagos" he wasn’t lying, because a lot of sexy girls and cool guys showed up in droves to listen to their boy.
But the anticipation was built slowly. While the event was billed to run from 8:00 PM till dawn, the early hours were dominated by guest artists who held down the stage until the man of the hour made his move. It wasn’t until around 1:00 AM, which was honestly expected for a "till dawn" show , that Mavo made his grand entrance to"Escaladizzy," finally kicking the night into high gear.
One thing about Mavo is his energy; he’s very nonchalant in a good way, moving with a relaxed confidence that anchors the room. Throughout the night, "I came with my friends" became more than a statement, it was a mantra that was repeated throughout the night. He shared the stage with a host of notable artists like Shallipopi, Wave$tar, Zlatan, Toye, Shoday, Poco Lee, Ckay, Minz, Psycho YP, and Taves.
In a heartwarming moment, even his parents were in the building to witness his first major concert milestone. However, that collaborative spirit was a bit of a double-edged sword. At a certain point, the fans weren’t so happy because they just wanted to see their boy perform. To be honest, I was low-key pissed that we didn’t get to hear some of his essential tracks, like "Tumo Weto," "Wuse II" with Zaylevelten, or his collaborations with Wavestar. We aren’t exactly complaining, though, because Mavo and his producer Aibrid gave us something special by performing some exclusive songs that kept the vibes high.
If there is one thing that needs to improve, I won't fault Mavo for it, but I’m definitely pointing fingers at the organizers: the sound. The audio was not nice at all, especially for the fans at the back, which really affected the experience. I realized then that Mavo isn't the only artist who has been a victim of this lately; it’s a recurring issue at other concerts in Lagos too. Despite the technical hitches, the energy sustained until the very end, around 4:30 AM. As the night drew to a close, the sky lit up with fireworks, a triumphant signal marking the success of his first concert. It was a night of exclusive sounds and grand entrances that proved Mavo has the city's heart, ending on a literal and metaphorical high.
All images by @TheFirstTayo on IG.
