NATIVELAND is an annual music festival in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

, and organized by ''

The Native ''The Native'' (stylized in all caps) is a Nigerian-based music magazine publishing in Lagos. Founded in 2016, ''The Native'' focuses primarily on music, style, and art, championing the sounds and culture of tomorrow, today. History ''The Na ...

''. The platform was established to bring together the best of pop culture, music, art, food, style, sports, and education in the Nigerian entertainment industry. In 2020, ''Billboard Magazine'' named NATIVELAND as one of The Gatekeepers of the Nigerian music industry.

History

NATIVELAND is produced and organized by

. It was created to bring together the best of pop culture, music, art, food, style, sports, and education in the Nigerian entertainment industry. The event is held annually at Muri Okunola Park, in

2016: First edition

On 22 December 2016, the first edition was held and powered by

Ndani TV Ndani TV is a web-based channel owned by GTBank. History Ndani TV was established in 2012 by GTBank to offer both entertainment and informative content in order to attract a youthful customer base. It was the first online video content veh ...

. The concert was headlined by

Skepta Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr. (born 19 September 1982), known professionally as Skepta, is a British grime MC, rapper, record producer and DJ. Alongside his younger brother Jme, he briefly joined Roll Deep before they became founding members of ...

, and

Burna Boy Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (born 2 July 1991), known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He gained recognition in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album '' ...

and featured guest performances from,

Ycee Oludemilade Martin Alejo (born 29 January 1993), known professionally as Ycee (pronounced ; also stylized as YCee), is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter. He gained popularity after his single "Condo", which features vocals by Patorankin ...

, Ajebutter 22,

Maleek Berry Okunola Abdul Maleek Anu-Oluwapo Shoyebi (born 11 August 1987), professionally known as Maleek Berry, is a British-Nigerian record producer and recording artist. After his break into the spotlight in 2012, Maleek Berry was nominated as "Music Pr ...

, Fresh L, DAP The Contract, Odunsi (The Engine),

Cruel Santino Osayaba Andrew Ize-Iyamu, better known by his stage name Cruel Santino, is a Nigerian alternative singer-songwriter, rapper and director. He is a member of Monster Boys collective, with music producers Genio Bambino, and GMK. He was signed to Int ...

, and

Lady Donli Zainab Elizabeth Donli, known as Lady Donli, is a Nigerians, Nigerian musician. She is an alternative R&B, hip hop, alternative jazz and Afrobeat singer and songwriter. Biography Lady Donli was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is the youngest of si ...

. At the first edition, the music group DRB LasGidi, united on stage.

2017: Second edition

On 22 December 2017, the second edition was held, and headlined by

Kojo Funds Errol Kojo Bellot, known professionally as Kojo Funds ( ; born 30 March 1995), is an English singer, rapper and songwriter. His music blends West African and Caribbean sounds with road rap, dancehall and pop. Kojo Funds featured on Yxng Bane ...

Davido David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), known professionally as Davido, is a Nigerian American, Nigerian-American singer, songwriter and record producer. Davido was born in Atlanta, U.S, and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He made his mus ...

Nonso Amadi Chinonso Obinna Amadi (born September 1, 1995) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and music producer. He is a self-taught songwriter and music producer who embarked on his music career in 2012, while at Covenant University, where he studied chemical ...

, Tekno,

Not3s Lukman Olanrewaju Odunaike (born 17 April 1998), better known by his stage name Not3s (pronounced Notes), is an English rapper and singer from Hackney, London. His songs include "My Lover" and "Fine Line", both of which are collaborations with ...

, Mayorkun and

Yxng Bane Larry Cummings Kiala, known professionally as Yxng Bane (pronounced "young bane"), is an English rapper, singer and songwriter. Early and personal life Larry Cummings Kiala grew up in Custom House, an industrial district of East London's Cannin ...

, with guess performances from, Fasina, Fresh L, Mobblanta, No Politics Mob, Kazeem Twins, Yinka Bernie, AYLØ,

, Barelyanyhook, Dice Ailes,

Ladipoe Ladipo Eso popularly known as Ladipoe or Poe, is a Nigerian rapper and singer. On 28 February 2017, Ladipoe signed a record deal with Mavin Records. He rose to prominence with the song "Feel Alright" where he got featured by Show Dem Camp, SDC "Sh ...

, Prettyboy D-O, DJ Aye, Wavy The Creator, Odunsi, Blackmagic, Santi, Ajebutter22, BOJ, and SDC.

2018: Third edition

The third edition was held with Odunsi, PrettyBoy D-O, and Santi as special guests, with additional performances from

Wande Coal Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe (born 18 October 1985), popularly known as Wande Coal, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Early life Wande Coal was born on 18 October 1985 in Lagos Island, Lagos state, Nigeria, to Chief Ibukun Olufunto and Omolara ...

Runtown Douglas Jack Agu (born 19 August 1989), known by his stage name Runtown, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer. His music blends Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, and reggae. He first gained media attention and popularity with his song "Gallardo ( ...

, Sababii, Falana, and Teni.

2019: Fourth edition

At the fourth edition, the festival added a day for panels titled NATIVE HOUSE, which invited music industry insiders from various sects and artists from Nigeria and the African Diaspora. To discuss topics ranging from the migration of contemporary African music, visual art, and the international music interest in African music. The festival feature guess performs from

Naira Marley Azeez Adeshina Fashola (born 10 May 1991), known professionally as Naira Marley, is a British-Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper. Education At the age of 11, Fashola moved to Peckham, South London, England. He graduated with a distinctio ...

, Santi, Rema,

Tems Temilade Openiyi (born 11 June 1995), known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence", which peaked at number 9 on the ''Billbo ...

, Joeboy,

Fireboy DML Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan (born 5 February 1996), known professionally as Fireboy DML, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. In 2018, he signed a record deal with YBNL Nation, a record label founded by rapper Olamide. His debut studio album, ...

, Buju, Gigi Atlantis, SOMADINA, Cuppy, Maison 2500, DJ Femo and more. With additional music provided by

NATIVE Sound System Native Sound System is a British radio show, based in London, and hosted by Sholzstilltippin, and Addy Edgal. It currently airs every Friday at 5PM, on NTS Radio. The show showcase up and coming African music talents, with the aim to document A ...

resident DJs Bristar and Vvada.

and Koffee did not perform, due to the security at the VIP entrance was breached by fans.

2021: Fifth edition

On 22 December 2021, NSS hosted the fifth edition of NATIVELAND, titled NATIV5 at Harbour Point Marquee. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of

. The music concert was headlined by Rema,

Amaarae Ama Serwah Genfi (born July 4, 1994), formerly known as Petrah and currently known professionally as Amaarae, is an Ghanaian-American singer and songwriter. She is known for her fusion of pop, R&B, afrobeats, and alté, as well as her fluid rep ...

, Styl-Plus,

Teezee Teniola Zaccheaus Jr. (born 28 June 1990), better known by his stage name Teezee (stylized as TeeZee), is an English-Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is one-third of the musical group DRB LasGidi, alongside BOJ and ...

, SGaWD, and Lojay, with guess performances from, Odunsi,

Ayra Starr Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe (born 14 June 2002), known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter born in Benin Republic. She achieved mainstream international recognition in 2022, with the release of her hit song "Ru ...

, Wale Davies, and

Controversy

Nativeland Festival has faced a recurring issue with stage collapses, with incidents reported in both 2019 and 2024. These collapses occurred during live performances, resulting in property damage and posing serious threats to safety. The aftermath included an official statement from Nativeland and a wave of critical tweets from fans expressing their dissatisfaction.

References

{{reflist, 2 2016 establishments in Nigeria Festivals established in 2016 Music festivals in Lagos Electronic music festivals in Nigeria Festivals in Lagos Music festivals in Nigeria