02 March 2025 |
1:01 pm
John Legend’s return to Lagos at World Citizen’s Transfer Afrika live performance was a blinding show of musical brilliance and heartfelt connection, uniting followers and dignitaries alike with nostalgia, electrifying performances, and surprising duets. “Lagos, I’m so excited to be again. It’s been too lengthy; I missed you all,” John Legend mentioned as he opened…
John Legend’s return to Lagos at World Citizen’s Transfer Afrika live performance was a blinding show of musical brilliance and heartfelt connection, uniting followers and dignitaries alike with nostalgia, electrifying performances, and surprising duets.
“Lagos, I’m so excited to be again. It’s been too lengthy; I missed you all,” John Legend mentioned as he opened his set on the World Citizen’s Transfer Afrika live performance held at The Palms, Lagos, on Tuesday night time. It had been 5 years since his final look within the metropolis.
Donning a shiny, inexperienced two-piece silk go well with crafted by Nigerian designer Ugo Mozie, John Legend wore a shiny smile as he climbed the stage and kicked off his set with a stirring rendition of his 2004 basic, Used To Love U.
The night time was a spectacle of good stage lighting and a grand band comprising uniformed backing singers, saxists, trumpeters, and a pianist. DJ Consequence expertly blended fascinating Afrobeats and Amapiano jams throughout interludes, with Simi’s intimate however electrifying vocal efficiency kicking off the present. Draped in a black velvet shirt and ruffled skirt, Simi held the viewers spellbound for half an hour, performing her signature soulful hits like Stranger, Lady, Ayo, Borrow Me Your Child, and Duduke, earlier than taking off her sneakers on stage for a cool expertise.
“I got here right here to bop,” she laughed, her vitality infectious as she rendered King Sunny Ade’s basic hit Tota E Mole, in addition to different party-starting jams like Owambe and Joromi, earlier than closing along with her verse on Chike’s Operating.
“My better part concerning the present was with the ability to have enjoyable,” she instructed Guardian Music after the present. “I wasn’t seeing the group very nicely, however simply by with the ability to lock in with my band and my dancers, I used to be in a position to overlook every little thing and simply have enjoyable on stage. I take pleasure in it when that occurs as a result of it doesn’t at all times occur.”
“You all look good tonight, Lagos. Dance alongside if the spirit strikes. Who’s been with me since Get Lifted?” John Legend mentioned as he sat behind a black grand piano. He delighted the viewers with extra of his earlier hits, together with his 2004 basic, Atypical Individuals, his 2006 hit Inexperienced Mild, and his 2006 fan-favourite PDA.
His efficiency of Nina Simone’s 1965 hit, Feeling Good, had the viewers singing alongside and awe-struck as he held his breath on the final observe of her chorus “…and I’m feeling goooooood!”
A lot of his efficiency was accomplished on foot, with the Grammy-winning American singer stealing each alternative to bust some dance strikes. Different instances, he was seated behind the piano, the place he shared touching reminiscences about his late grandmother, Marjorie Maxine Stephens, whose affect had formed his musical journey.
Talking on creating considered one of his largest hits, Atypical Individuals, Legend mentioned, “I used to be within the studio again in 2004, with Black Eyed Peas. We had the identical supervisor on the time, and I used to be writing hooks for them. I began mumbling melodies, and I stored on going like I at all times do, and we made Atypical Individuals. I instructed them they may hold all the opposite concepts I had written for them, however I needed Atypical Individuals for myself.”
Returning after the primary half hour sporting a white two-piece go well with tailor-made by one other Nigerian designer, Orange Tradition, John Legend carried out a medley of Used To Love U with the backing instrumentals from Fela Kuti’s 1975 hit Water No Get Enemy, tributing the enduring Afrobeat inventor and his Kuti clan on stage.
The present, attended by authorities dignitaries, together with the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in addition to media professionals and most people, stored a balanced change between sober and intriguing.
John Legend’s closing performances stored climaxing with each tune, leaving the viewers surprised when he boomed into the microphone once more. He introduced out Simi once more for a shock joint efficiency of his 2004 basic Refuge. They maintained a powerful chemistry on stage, with John Legend melting hearts when he planted a well mannered kiss on her brow on the finish of their duet.
READ ALSO: John Legend Transfer Afrika’s live performance holds in Lagos
The ultimate intrigue was when he carried out his 2013 world hit, All of Me, bringing again attendees who had began exiting the live performance area to catch a glimpse of the efficiency. With a masks of sweat beading throughout his face, he took a bow as he closed his efficiency for the night time.
Save for tense restrictions round media protection, as is Transfer Afrika’s coverage, the present swelled with pleasure from begin to end. Additionally, the seating association of the present, with the VIP organized straight in entrance of the stage impacted upon the texture of the present leaving the energetic dance and shows by the nice folks of Basic Admissions stapled to the again of the world.
The present was typically neatly organised, with visitors management across the venue being seamless, and a big outside part used for holding the viewers earlier than normal admissions started. The safety presence on the venue was additionally heavy. Total, a piece of the present’s laurels held on the music performances, whereas different experiences like photograph cubicles stationed for model experiences have been additionally a powerful attraction for the viewers.
Launched in 2023, by the worldwide advocacy organisation, World Citizen, along with Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang outfit, the Transfer Afrika tour is a music touring circuit designed to handle world inequalities and stimulate Africa’s inventive financial system via stay occasions.
It debuted in Kigali, Rwanda, in December 2023, headlined by Kendrick Lamar, with visitor performances by Jay-Z, Beyonce, Davido, Kwesi Arthur, Zuchu, and a bunch of different world music stars. It returned this 12 months with its second version headlined by John Legend in Kigali and Lagos, Nigeria.
