In 2016, the NATIVE was born as a print magazine and musical festival centred around what we saw starting to take shape around us: the next Great African Art Renaissance. 5 years on, our audience has only grown larger and our writing more daring as we continue to champion the voice of the African millennial–and now Gen Z.

To commemorate and celebrate our 5 year milestone, we brought you NATIV5, a free show hosted by NATIVE Sound System in Lagos– exactly five years on from our first ever festival. As promised, the night was filled with amazing performances from your favourite African entertainers, bringing nostalgic names such as Styl Plus and more popular names such as Amaarae, Odunsi the Engine, CKay, Ayra Starr, Rema and more, to the main stage. To recap all the fun from last December, here are 5 highlights from NATIV5:

Amaarae’s CRAZY WURLD

The fabulous Amaarae took to the main stage for one of the longest performances of the night. The Ghanaian singer was an unmissable force as she performed songs from her fan favourite debut ‘The Angel You Don’t Know.’ However, the highlight of the night was the singer’s star-studded roster of friends who graced the main stage alongside her. In a short time, fans enjoyed music from Ayra Starr, BOJ, CKay, Vict0ny and more, who made the singer’s set a memorable one.

Styl Plus make a comeback

One of the most anticipated artists to grace the stage was the legendary R&B group – Styl Plus. Kicking of the show in grand style, the duo held the NATIV5 stage down with nostalgic tracks from their catalogue including crowd favourites such as “Call My Name,” “Olufunmi” and more. The pair also set the tone for the rest of the concert, amping the crowd up for later acts such as Amaarae, Odunsi The Engine and more.

On-site brand activations

NATIV5 would not have been the success it was without the help and support from our amazing brand sponsors including Tangerine, TrybeOne, Powerhorse, Tix.Africa, Orijin and RED Tv. On the night of the show, each sponsor set up activations for guests and music lovers, inviting them to their stalls with freebies, merch, games, and exciting treats.

 

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Quacktails steals the show

While the night was kept going by our amazing brand sponsors from Orijin to Powerhorse who provided the crowd with the much-needed juice to enjoy their night, our food and drink vendors also stole the show on the night. All eyes were on mobile mixology service, Quacktails who provided the crowd with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with imaginative flavours. Their stand was a huge hit of the night. 

Dressed to impress

The night was filled with stylish and fashionable guests of all ages who were adorned in vibrant and daring pieces, reflecting the youthful heart of the NATIVE community. From the artists to celebrities, influencers, music execs, and more, NATIVE events are always a great opportunity to find some fashion inspiration and NATIV5 was no different. 

 

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