A city as diverse as Lagos inevitably serves as fertile ground for the regular emergence of dynamic subcultures that reflect the city’s ever-evolving spirit and the numerous ways that its inhabitants navigate, adapt, and express themselves. In the late 2010s, a small community of partygoers with a shared appreciation for Electronic and Dance music began to emerge, creating an alternative space for those similarly dissatisfied with the city’s more mainstream-leaning nightlife scene. The nascent subculture naturally began to attract like-minded people, fostering a vibrant scene that soon morphed into larger-scale gatherings.

Events like Sweat It Out and Group Therapy quickly rose to prominence, evolving into full-scale EDM events that became havens for sonic exploration and uninhibited self-expression. A little over a year ago, Ilé Ijó added its name to this growing list of events, carving out a unique space for itself in the city’s Electronic music landscape. “At the core of my DJing is a fascination with how people feel when they dance. I wanted to create something centered on that energy,” Abiodun, Ilé Ijó’s founder and curator, tells The NATIVE of how the event was originally conceived. 

In the relatively short time since its conception, the bi-monthly event, which initially started as Miliki, has quickly become one of the go-to raves in the city, thanks to a bunch of reasons that range from a willingness to trial new ideas with the music shared with their community to the style of communication employed. Equally important is how the party’s community is centered in every decision.

In truth, Ilé Ijó’s main allure lies in the different ways they have been able to evolve and experiment while catering to their growing community, who buy into their vision. Adeola Akinloye, a regular attendee, tells me she’s kept coming back since the first edition because of the event’s intentionality and sense of community. ‘Every single edition leaves you wondering if this is the peak; would I feel this way again? If so, When? When is the next edition?’ 

On August 24, Ilé Ijó kicked off its first anniversary celebrations, tagged Kòmínítì, with ‘Over 160,’ an event hosted under the Drum N Bass arm, which was launched earlier in the year. The idea to play Drum N Bass music was conceived by Marina Rd., an open format DJ who recently became a resident at Ilé Ijó. “Drum N Bass came from a desire to try something different,” Abiodun explains.“The idea felt fresh and exciting, so we went for it.”

The music at Drum N Bass dials up the pace and euphoria of the dancefloor, typically ranging from 160 to 180bpm. ‘Over 160,’ which was held in a Were House, a compact space in the heart of Lekki, was no different. Atracta opened up the night with a killer set before making way for Crasher Josh, who delivered some breakbeat hardcore gems. Marina Rd. took the wheels around midnight, further cranking up the energy with an equally spirited set.  

They rounded off their first-year celebrations with Kòmínítì club night on the 29th of August. The event drew more of the Ilé Ijó regulars thanks to an exciting lineup that largely delivered on its promise. William Eni, an Ilé Ijó debutant, kicked the night off, via ByUSBNetwork, another arm of the growing event dedicated to spotlighting the next wave of Electronic Dance music DJs coming out of Lagos and across other cities. 

Another debutant, YTG, took over the reins before handing over to Sons Of Ubuntu, one of the more prominent names in the Lagos Electronic music scene, who delivered a memorable set. The night’s highlight came courtesy of Nyege Nyege’s Jay Mitta, an Ugandan producer and DJ, who brought the frenetic energy of Tanzania’s Singeli, a fast-tempo genre that often operates between 200 and 300 BPM, to an empty parking lot in Lagos Island. 

“The collaboration with Nyege Nyege was inspired by our desire to put people onto something new. We first came across Boiler Room’s feature on Singeli in Tanzania, and the sound immediately fascinated us,” Abiodun says of how they came across Singeli and Nyege Nyege, an Ugandan music incubator and festival that promotes Electronic music. “As we dug deeper, we discovered that Nyege Nyege is the collective at the forefront of pushing the sound globally. So, we reached out, had a conversation, and brought the idea to life.”

The night was closed out by exhilarating sets from WEAREALLCHEMICALS and Abiodun himself, who made his first Ilé Ijó appearance of the year. Both nights, charged with an electric and carefree atmosphere, perfectly encapsulate Ilé Ijó’s very essence and spirit: innovative, rhythmic, and undeniably cheery. 

Moving forward, Abiodun says they’re looking to expand Ilé Ijó even further, teasing a few other exciting plans that are sure to keep their momentum going and their community engaged. This distinctive ethos of experimentation and commitment to innovation, while also platforming talented, upcoming DJs, has been the cornerstone of Ile Ijo’s remarkable ascent in the past year. It’s what attracts and keeps their growing community and what’s likely to keep powering them on, even as the city’s Electronic music scene continues to evolve and diversify.