Gidi Fest 2018: Nigeria's biggest music festival continues the necessary march to greatness [review]

It isn’t often that Nigeria gets this; a music festival of world standard, ushered in every year with the best  repetitive line-up, representing the heart of the country’s music and youths. The 2018 edition of the Gidi Culture Festival, aka Gidi Fest, rolled into town, and this time, they were doing it big.

Where previous three editions had found a safe space in Eko Atlantic, this year, they moved it closer to the Island Center, with the Hardrock Beach, a venue which received its breakthrough in 2017, further getting the shine of this prestigious event. Also, thankfully, the organisers had ditched the central payment token system for vendors, allowing the concert-goers and the ease of their cash and debit cards, instead of loading cash equivalents into specialized wristbands.

So with a closer venue, easier ways to spend money and a lineup that read closest to the first team of Nigerian music, who didn’t want to have that good a time?

 

The venue had everything. Stalls containing art blended into video gaming centers, into drink centers and into food centers. Every big brand, with a marketing strategy directed at the youths, were present. If for any reason, the music wasn’t exactly your thing, you get to lose yourself into a world of fine food and wine, spend some money on merch, take goofy photos at themed booths, or simply enjoy a game of ping pong, or Foosball. This was nirvana; a mythical land created for the fun-loving youth.

You show up, get your blood riled up, and get lost in the sheer activity of it.

And yes, the youths showed up in numbers. From swaggering young men, to slay queens, students to CEOs, everyone was present to knock back, chill and enjoy the joys of living. Gidi Fest had created it, and people were going to do every damn thing.

The music was good. Interestingly, the organisers had the innovative idea to provide two stages, offering a variety of music. The Next Gen Stage, which is in its first appearance, was designed to carry the hopes and dreams of a younger generation of artists looking to hit the big time. These artists with niche and growing pockets of support and buzz were catered to as they climbed the platform to perform, many of them had never felt that energy, love and support rolled into one.

 

I have watched these NextGen acts perform across different shows in Lagos, but never seen them raise their art to the level that they did on the night. D-Truce, Jazz, Odunsi The Engine and others had their shine before the stage moved to the main stage.

 Down there, a little technical glitch delayed the sound and affected the transitioning. But that aside. The roster was solid. Maka and Muna brought girl power to the scene, Show Dem Camp have an extensive family of creatives, and they were plugged into their set. Mayorkun’s influence and showmanship continue to appreciate, and at the concert, he’s got back up now in Peruzzi and Dremo. They linked up to perform ‘Mind’, a surprisingly popular record from Davido Music Worldwide.

 

2baba gave the performance of his life, riling the crowd with a complete set, while Brymo showed up (without his G-strings and butt-on-display) to offer class and panache on the stage. With Efya, things were lukewarm, but Ycee was a good vibe. Queen Tiwa Savage got to sprinkle some sweet-scented spice on the crowd, before bringing on her best friend, and loyal subject, Wizkid to round off things.

 

Gidi Fest was rounded off with just some minutes left before 6am, and although fans dragged themselves out, weary, but giddy with the sheer force of entertainment, and experience that they were soaked in.

Eclipse Live, the organisers of Gidi Fest brand it as Nigeria’s greatest music festival, and on this night, just as they have done in previous years, they were worthy of the name. I have seen three editions of it, complete with improvements all around. Where previous years added a little something extra to show growth. This one broke down the fence and climbed into legacy status. Bring on next year.

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