Gunna made his debut in Nigeria with a headlining performance at Lagos’ Flytime Fest, marking his first visit to the West African nation.
The Atlanta rapper delivered a standout set, which included a surprise appearance by South African rising star Tyla for their collaboration “Jump.”
Headlining the opening night of the four-day festival—dedicated to celebrating the African Diaspora—Gunna joined the ranks of previous performers such as Megan Thee Stallion, Wizkid, and Burna Boy. His performance took place at Lagos’s Eko Convention Center in front of an energized crowd of approximately 5,000 fans, according to festival representatives.
Gunna hit the stage around 3 a.m., captivating the audience with hits like “One of Wun,” “Drip Too Hard,” and “Yosemite.” The atmosphere shifted when the beat for “Jump” dropped, accompanied by audio from dancehall star Skillibeng’s feature. Tyla then made her grand entrance, stunning the crowd in a pilot’s cap, sequined mini skirt, and black bustier.
“They ain’t never had a pretty girl from Joburg,” she teased, as the audience erupted in cheers. After singing her first verse, Gunna playfully rapped his lines to Tyla while she danced across the stage.
Tyla stayed on to perform her latest single, “Push 2 Start,” even handing the mic to a fan who enthusiastically (if not skillfully) sang along. Gunna returned to thank Tyla with a warm hug before launching into more hits, including “Fukumean,” “Drip or Drown,” and “Bread and Butter.”
During his performance of “Banking On Me,” Gunna brought a fan onstage, creating one of the night’s most emotional moments. The young woman, through tears, flawlessly rapped the song back to him before confessing, “I’ve married you in my dreams. I’ve sent you messages, respond please!”
Gunna’s headlining set was part of Flytime Fest’s Coca Cola Rhythm Unplugged concert, a two-decade tradition that has introduced Nigerian talent like Tems and brought international stars such as Ja Rule and Ashanti to the country.
In a pre-concert press conference, Flytime Promotions CEO Cecil Hammond praised the growing global influence of African music. Gunna echoed this sentiment, stating, “Afrobeats, Nigeria, and African music itself is coming in big. It’s taking over the next wave. With my music, it resonates.” He also promised fans this would not be his last performance in Nigeria.
Beyond his collaboration with Tyla on “Jump,” Gunna has delved into Afropop with features on Victor Thompson’s “This Year (Blessings)” remix and Sarz’s “Happiness” with Asake. Rolling Stone even named Gunna and Thompson’s track the seventh-best Afropop song of 2023. While in Lagos, Gunna was also spotted in the studio with Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, hinting at potential new music on the horizon.
