London shook to its core on November 23, 2025, as Nigerian rap legend Olamide made a historic comeback to the UK stage, headlining a sold-out show at the iconic OVO Arena after nearly ten years away. What unfolded was a cultural homecoming, a full-circle celebration of an artist whose sound helped shape a global movement.
More than 12,000 fans flooded the arena, transforming the venue into a sea of green, white, and vibrance as chants of “Baddo!” thundered through the hall long before the first beat dropped. For many in attendance, this was the moment they had waited almost a decade for: the return of a pioneer whose music narrated their youth, their hustle, and their identity.
From the instant Olamide stepped on stage, the energy erupted. Backed by a live band and a production setup worthy of a global superstar, he tore through an electrifying set list that spanned his classic anthems. But the night truly exploded when he began unleashing a parade of surprise guests, each one met with deafening screams.
First came his YBNL frontline star Asake, alongside street-pop powerhouse Seyi Vibez, joining Olamide to perform “99,” sending the arena into a frenzy. The stage shook again when Lil Kesh appeared to perform the timeless street-anthem “Shoki,” a moment fans described online as “pure nostalgia overdose.”
British-Nigerian rapper Darkoo also turned up the heat with her smash hit “Billionaire Club,” adding a UK-flavored jolt of swagger. The surprises kept coming as Modola graced the stage to perform “Billing,” while Bella Shmurda electrified the crowd with his signature energy.
Producer-turned-hitmaker Pheelz delivered one of the night’s most euphoric moments with “Finesse,” a song the entire arena sang word for word. Rising Afrobeats star Joeboy also made a special appearance, rounding out a star-studded lineup that felt more like a festival than a single-artist concert.
Fans flooded social media with emotional posts, calling the night “goosebumps from start to finish,” “a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” and “Olamide reclaiming his throne.” One X user wrote, “Seeing Olamide in London again… I didn’t know I needed this healing.”
Beyond the vibes and nostalgia, this concert underscored something larger: the unstoppable global surge of Afrobeats. Olamide, one of the architects of the genre’s street-rap renaissance, demonstrated why his name still commands arenas across continents.
