Make Music Nigeria, Nigeria’s most prominent music advocate group has officially kicked off its 10th edition celebrations with a high-energy kickoff event, the Battle of the Bands.
The event which held on Saturday May 10th in partnership with the Alliance Francaise de Lagos, a long-standing cultural partner and three-time event sponsor, marked a defining moment in the lead-up to World Music Day (June 21st), the global celebration of music as a universal language.
Six exceptional bands took the stage, delivering genre-spanning performances in front of a packed crowd and a revered panel of judges.
The event which had a judging panel of industry experts including Efe Omorogbe (CEO of Now Muzik and longtime manager to 2Baba), Sola Mogaji (Schullzz), award-winning broadcaster, Rotimikeys (renowned producer and multi-instrumentalist), Efe Mac Roc (TV music curator and founder of Mac Roc Sessions), and Made Kuti (Grammy-nominated Afrobeat artist and grandson of
the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti) saw six exceptional bands take the stage, delivering genrespanning performances in front of a packed crowd and music enthusiasts.
At the end of a fiercely creative night, ARB Band, The Love Sicks Band, and YoungCrez & The Frolic Team emerged as the top three acts. These bands will now advance to perform at Shutdown, the headline concert and closing celebration of Make Music Nigeria 2025, scheduled for June 21st. ‘The Battle of the Bands is more than a competition, it is a showcase of potential, diversity, and the creative power of live performance,” said Adeola Akinyemi, Director of Make Music Nigeria. As we mark a decade of cultural impact and artist development, we remain committed to the World Music Day ethos: music should be free, inclusive, and a force for good. With Shutdown approaching, we’re ready to spotlight the next wave of Nigeria’s musical trailblazers.’ Alliance Française de Lagos, who continues to support Make Music Nigeria’s growing cultural footprint, reaffirmed the importance of creative collaboration in driving community transformation
through the arts.
“At Alliance Française de Lagos, we believe in the transformative power of the arts, from language to craft, and especially music,” said Precious Naador, Marketing Executive, Alliance Française de Lagos. “Our partnership with Make Music Nigeria reflects a shared mission to celebrate creativity, foster cultural exchange, and build lasting community through sound. It’s more than collaboration, it’s a commitment to shaping society through the arts.”
As the 10th anniversary unfolds, Make Music Nigeria will roll out a lineup of programs including Pop up worship, My Song Is Your Song, New Music Marathon, Make Music Live, and the much-anticipated Shutdown Concert, all aligned with its mission to contribute to music participation and elevate emerging talent in the Nigerian Music space.
