Make Music Nigeria partners Alliance Française, Lagos to celebrate World Music Day 2025
By Editor
MAKE Music Nigeria, the country’s leading arm of the global Fête de la Musique movement has unveiled its plans for World Music Day 2025 edition to mark a decade of cultural impact, artiste empowerment, and community engagement. This milestone edition, scheduled for June 20, 2025, is being hosted in collaboration with the Alliance Française de Lagos and supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria. Make Music Nigeria 2025 is proudly supported by Slice Media and Showgear Nigeria.
The announcement was made at a press briefing in Lagos last Wednesday, and it brought together the organizing committee, media, and cultural stakeholders to share the roadmap for this year’s edition. The 2025 celebration is set to deliver a series of engaging programmes aimed at amplifying emerging voices, deepening music industry education, elevating industry discourse and uniting communities through music. At the heart of the 2025 celebration is a two-day festival that kicks off on June 20, 2025, with the Music Business Conference that will explore key themes such as streaming, publishing, branding, and music law and aims to provide upcoming creatives and artistes with necessary tools required to build sustainable careers. The event will feature industry leaders, top A&Rs and cultural stakeholders in an immersive experience designed to close the knowledge gap within the music ecosystem.
The festival ends on World Music Day proper, June 21, 2025, with the Shutdown Concert, a high-energy celebration set to electrify Lagos with a vibrant mix of DJs, one of which is DJ Baddest from Côte d’Ivoire. Shutdown Concert promises an electrifying set, infusing the night with a dynamic Francophone energy that bridges West African rhythms and celebrates the unifying power of music across borders.
Performances from live bands and rising stars are also scheduled for the night along with headline performances that include Nigerian rap icon, M.I Abaga that will mark his powerful comeback tied to his two-part album and legacy in shaping Nigeria’s hip-hop narrative. Also, soul-pop sensation, Johnny Drille and gospel powerhouse, Gaise Baba, promise a night that captures the heartbeat of Nigeria’s diverse soundscape.
A major highlight of the celebration is Nigeria’s participation at the global ‘Taking Flight’ Choir Project, where selected choirs from eight countries will deliver a synchronized performance of Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds,’ showcasing the unifying power of music across continents.
Project Manager, Make Music Nigeria, Temi Hassan-Nehemiah (left); Director, Make Music Nigeria, Adeola Akinyemi; Founder, Connect Afrobeats, Abdullah Abubakre; Marketing Lead, Alliance Francaise de Lagos, Precious Naador; General Manager, Vybz FM, Sesan Adeniji and member, organizing partner, Make Music Nigeria, Sola Mogaji at the recent press briefing… in Lagos
“Make Music started as a simple way to celebrate World Music Day,” said the Director of Make Music Nigeria, Adeola Akinyemi, while speaking at the press conference, reflecting on the journey so far. “Ten years later, we are proud to see how that idea has grown into a movement that touches lives, empowers creators, and strengthens the bond between music and the Nigerian people across cities.”
As longstanding cultural partners, Alliance Française de Lagos and the French Embassy in Nigeria continue to play a pivotal role in Make Music’s evolution. Their support brings global expertise, cultural depth, and a shared vision of music as a bridge between nations and generations.
Marketing Lead, Alliance Française de Lagos, Precious Naador, emphasized the importance of the collaboration thus, “We are proud to be part of a platform this impactful that truly makes music accessible to all. Celebrating World Music Day in partnership with Make Music Nigeria reflects our commitment to creative inclusivity, cross-cultural collaboration, and the belief that music is a universal language that brings people together.”
Cooperation Officer for the French Embassy, Marianne Ournac, also highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy, saying, “Fête de la Musique, aka World Music Day, is a major event in France, and we are delighted to be able to support its celebration in Lagos, Nigeria. This year, we are very happy to add a Francophone touch by supporting the arrival of Ivorian female DJ ‘Baddest’, who will be performing a set combining Afrobeats influences and the sounds of Francophone West African countries.”
Expanding beyond Lagos, this year’s Make Music activities will take place across six cities, a testament to the initiative’s steady growth and widening impact over the last decade with each city bringing its own energy, culture, and creative force to the celebration.
Speaking on this expansion, Partner, Uyo organizing team, Edison Udom, remarked, “We are excited to be part of a nationwide movement that not only entertains but uplifts and educates. We intend to position Make Music as a tool to connect communities, nurture young talents, and reinforce the idea that music belongs to everyone.”
The plans reflect the wider vision of Make Music Nigeria to democratize access to music and spotlight talent from every corner of the country. Since its inception in 2016, Make Music Nigeria has grown into one of the country’s most inclusive and impactful music initiatives hosting over 300 live and virtual events, spotlighting more than 3,000 artists, and reaching over one million people nationwide. With continued support from the French cultural network, local partners, and music lovers nationwide, the 10th anniversary of Make Music Nigeria stands not only as a celebration of sound but as a rallying call for a deeper, more inclusive, and more sustainable music culture in Nigeria.
