Kavinsky’s Nightcall is playing; it is not intentional, but it is the perfect soundtrack for driving around Lagos in the early hours of the morning. It’s eerie enough to demand the brain’s attention and intrigue. This instantly distracts from the hundreds of adjectives brewing in my mind to describe the annual Alté event, OurLand. Hundreds of words, yet none positive.

‘‘Twas the night of December 30th, and I had watched the night become dawn. There’s a beauty in driving in Lagos at 5 am; the sun isn’t out, but there’s a brightness to the hue of the sky, the roads are neither empty nor full, and buses are preparing for the day. Lorries and motorbikes use excessive lighting decorations, which aid drivers in spotting them from meters away. These observations are my coping mechanism to ignore a disappointment which might be a result of a few factors, all tied to an Alté carnival, OurLand.

Carnival, as it refers to itself, but that’s a significant stretch by all means. With barely any side attractions or amusements, a befitting description would be a festival, a music one. One with a handful of shopping spots, party games like noughts and crosses or table tennis, and sponsor booths. But even as a festival, the 2025 OurLand doesn’t measure up to the expectations.

Into OurLand 2025

Superstition dictates that bad things come in threes, and so were the signs of red flags of OurLand.

The first came during the midday hours on the 30th, when the beloved alternative artist, Odunsi The Engine, tweeted that he’d be unavailable to perform at OurLand. While there were a few complaints, it was subsequently not surprising, as this wouldn’t be the first time he pulled out from a lineup. Plus, this lineup was solid enough that his absence would be comfortable.

This was evident with the responses attendees gave when questioned who they were excited for. Out of the scores of guests asked, Victony, Falz, Cruel Santino, Ycee, Teni the Entertainer, and Oxlade were fan favourites. Unfortunately, many missed these performances as they came out after 2 am. Cruel Santino, Mavo, and Teni the Entertainer never turned up.

The next signifier that things may not have been thoroughly planned was the lack of a parking space. The event, hosted at SystemSpec in Oniru, left the parking decision to the heavens and agberos. The heavens being the RCCG City of David parking lot, a church which wasn’t too far on the opposite side of the street. Beggars can’t be choosers, but there’s a fragile mental state you’re left in when you have to drive up 18 floors to find a free spot. So I hold no grudges against the black jeep that kept causing traffic because it couldn’t descend with ease.

But if Odunsi couldn’t make it, and the parking was the 13th task of Hercules, then the worst was over? No, and beyond the entrance, I was greeted with bodies, bodies, bodies; they were all asleep. It was only midnight, and for a nocturnal city like Lagos, this was unusual. But a few hours into the event, Morpheus would visit me too, because despite its packed lineup, only a couple of artistes would actually perform, and none would perform a set where they sang a song past the first chorus.

GoodGirl LA sang about how she was never looking for love in Lagos, but never got to tell us that she had lost her conscience. Taves edged us about his attraction to Folake; unfortunately, only people in front of the stage saw this; he descended into the crowd to connect closer to viewers, but the large screens of OurLand didn’t capture the actions of the performers. So anyone not close enough to the stage had to see “Crazy Brazy Wavy” for the umpteenth time. 

Tochi Bedford, a crowd favourite, gave it his all, and Efe Oraka blew us away with her vocals, but all these highs were short-lived, giving a newer meaning to seven minutes in heaven. Ultimately, the longest performance was delivered by the hypeman, who for hours kept promising the audience that they were in for the party of their lives. However, after six hours, the right question was, does the party know the people are here?

What Did the People Think? 

Six hours, because BOJ — one of the organisers — had tweeted that everyone should be there at 8 pm, as the show will start at 9. Too bad for anyone who stayed true to that time. Tolu, an OurLand regular, did exactly that. When asked about his experience, he expressed, “It truly started at 10, but the timing in between performances was too long. Only a handful of performers had happened before midnight. I was already tired of the DJ.”

Tolu wasn’t the only attendee who experienced burnout. Tobi, a first timer, who came around 11 pm and witnessed the security get physical with some guests, said, “You’re asking what time it started and who my favourite performer is; but what I really want to know is, what time does it start? And does Victony know he has a show tonight?”

A very valid question that was answered closer to the witching hour than midnight when the statement was made. Despite being unhappy with the shows, Tobi did state that artists like Egertton and ARTSALGHUL were performing around the time he came.

While there were little to no positive comments on the internet, and most people at the venue had mentally checked out, there was someone who enjoyed his time. 

Nonso, a photographer, exercised perseverance and stayed till the end of the event, around 4 am. It wasn’t his first, but his first with a mission — document every performance. His determination paid off, as hitmakers like Falz, Show Dem Camp, YCee, and Prettyboy D-O eventually serenaded the audience, well, what was left of it. 

When asked about his experience, he replied, “It was crazy and picked up at past 2 am. My favourite performances were Zaylevelten, Ajebutter 22 and Prettyboy D-O.”

The Silver Lining at OurLand 

Now, it wasn’t all bad at OurLand, and if you made it till 4 am, it ended on a high note. But this wasn’t the only thing to applaud. Beyond the security going at it with guests, or there being a single toilet which was closed around midnight, leaving a queue of antsy women. There was a brilliant sound system.

The DJs, who also never played a song for two minutes or more, kept the crowd busy, and the hypemen were the true headliners of the day. The response from the audience and the hours of the night didn’t seem to faze him. He was energetic at 3 am, as he was at 11 pm. He cheered on every performer as if they were a lead performer. 

What’s next for OurLand?

The internet reviews for OurLand are ruthless. Some are asking for a refund, and others are complaining about the short performances. Nigerians have always had a penchant for tardiness, and the masses are forgiving. However, OurLand took place a day after Gunna’s concert and two days after Wizkid’s. The audience is the same, cool kids looking to catch a vibe. So many who had attended the former came for OurLand, and when placed on the roster, it paled in comparison.

Nevertheless, it is not the end of the line for OurLand. If Nativeland could return after having a life-threatening stampede in 2019, to then have life threatening stage collapse in 2024, then anyone can make a comeback. Only 2026 knows what holds for OurLand, now that they’ve lost the people’s trust. My advice? Hire Stylplus and Wande Coal for your comeback!

Read a first account experience of a survivor of the 2024 NATIVELAND fiasco. Spoiler alert: She passed out!