- Folarin Odunlami, known as Fola, is an emerging Afrobeats artist.
- He apologized to fans after his first headline performance was abruptly ended.
- The concert took place on December 15 at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos.
Afrobeats rising star Folarin Odunlami, professionally known as Fola, has tendered an apology to his fans following the abrupt end of his first-ever headline performance at the Mainland Block Party, which was stopped over safety issues.
The event took place on Monday, December 15, at the Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. However, the concert was cut short after the venue allegedly became overcrowded. According to organisers, attendance surpassed the approved capacity, forcing officials to halt the show in order to protect the audience.
Several attendees who had purchased tickets later voiced their displeasure, claiming they were denied entry into the venue. Many also criticised the event’s planning and crowd control, describing the coordination as poorly handled.
Fola, who had only been on stage for a short time before the performance was stopped, reacted to the incident via his X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday. In his message, the singer apologised to fans and clarified that the decision to end the show was made to avoid further injuries.
“Family, I’m deeply sorry about how last night turned out,” he wrote. “People got hurt, and that’s unacceptable. Stopping the show was necessary because safety is always the priority. I hear all your concerns, and we’re doing everything possible to address them.”
The concert, which generated massive excitement among fans of the breakout artist known for songs such as Lost and Bye Bye, quickly sparked outrage online. Critics directed blame at both the performer and the organisers, citing inadequate planning and poor crowd management.
Fola’s record label, Dangbana Republik, also issued a statement admitting that safety protocols were breached. The label confirmed that the venue exceeded its capacity, creating a dangerous environment, and explained that the show was stopped once the risks became apparent.
The statement assured fans that efforts are underway with the event organisers to resolve the situation and attend to those affected, emphasizing that audience safety remains a top priority.
As of the time this report was filed, the organisers of the Mainland Block Party had yet to release an official statement addressing the incident.
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