The National Theatre is becoming a popular concert venue for Nigerian artists and a preferred option for Nigerians seeking a peaceful concert experience. Since Adekunle Gold held his concert there in 2025, the space has become a more viable venue for concerts, and it has us wondering: should more Nigerian artists consider using it for residency concerts?
Adekunle Gold’s 2025 National Theatre Experience
In 2025, Adekunle Gold became the first artist to headline a major concert at the newly renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (National Theatre) in Iganmu, Lagos. His sold-out orchestral concert, alongside the MUSON Orchestra and The 79th Element, received praise and positive reviews from Nigerians who attended and from people who enjoyed the show online.
This experience was so smooth and seamless that it started a conversation about more Nigerian artists needing to use more spaces like that for their concerts.
Davido’s Concert Announcement
This year, Davido announced a historic three-night concert residency titled “Oriadè: The Residency” scheduled for December 17–19, 2026, marking the first multi-day Afrobeats residency at the venue.
The announcement of Davido’s residency at the National Theatre sparked a conversation about the possibility of more Nigerian artists holding concerts there. The conversations have us wondering: do we need more of these concerts, or should they be rare?
Why Nigerian Artists Hosting Residency Concerts Is Important
A residency concert like the one Davido is planning has the potential to generate significant interest in the African music scene. Here’s how.
- The Financial Aspect
The money generated by Davido’s residency concerts, if all three days sell out, opens a conversation about the financial power of Nigerian concertgoers. While Nigerian concerts have always been successful, a three-day residency concert is a different ballgame, with the potential to have a different financial impact.
The success of this residency will position African music as a strong investment and open conversations about more residency concerts featuring international artists.
- Promotion of Nigerian Culture
A home-based residency has always been a great opportunity to showcase the culture of the artists headlining the concert, and with Davido having a wealth of international artists and slating the concerts for the famed “Detty December” period, there will be an inflow of foreigners who will experience the concerts and Nigerian culture.
This will also enable the creation of new tourist attractions for the Nigerian music scene through residencies if more Nigerian artists take the baton from Davido.
- Validating the Existence of Local Infrastructure
The remodelled National Theatre, used by artists like Adekunle Gold and Davido, underscores the importance of better catering to and maintaining local infrastructure. It also helps demonstrate Nigeria’s ability to host larger festivals by leveraging other local infrastructure when necessary.
The success of the three-day residency will prove that African venues can host world-class, multi-night productions comparable to those at major international venues like Madison Square Garden.
What do we think?
Nigerian artists hosting residency concerts at home helps top Afrobeats artists demonstrate the capacity of the local infrastructure, strengthens cultural bonds with domestic fans, and directly boosts the domestic creative economy, while also attracting tourists who want to experience the concerts and Nigerian culture.
