The Experience 2023

​Africa's biggest live gospel music concert is back. This will be its 18th edition, and for almost two decades, The Experience has been filling the gap of connecting Christians and others to God in a way that merges faith with music. Its earliest editions in the late aughts were one of the heady years, drawing attendees from all over the world to Lagos.

Even though the concert experience in general has experienced setbacks in the context of pandemics, global conflicts, and economic downtimes, The Experience is still one of those cultural vehicles keeping its head afloat.

Hosted by Paul Adefarasin, the event will feature Sinach, Travis Greene, Nathaniel Bassey, Naomi Raine and many others.

Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.

Venue: Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan

Access: Free

The Sabi Chef Street Food Festival  (Taste Sensation)

Sabi Chef, a street food cooking competition, will culminate into a grand finale on Friday after a rigorous screening exercise that whittled down over a thousand entries. This is the first time a competition like this will hold, honing in on the significance of street food to the average Nigerian.

Of course, the selected 10 finalists will ostensibly cook up a storm to win the prize of 3 million naira. But more importantly, it’s an opportunity for anyone to savor the complexity of Nigerian street food.

Friday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m.

Venue: Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island

Access: Free

Waterside (stage play by Joshua Alabi)

Waterside is the latest production from Joshua Alabi, the director and writer of the stage play which first premiered on December 2 and 3, making a return this weekend on Saturday. It stars Stanley Okeke and Moshood Fattah, and produced by Angela Peters.

Saturday, December 9, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Venue: Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre

Access: N10K

Fire and Sand Detty December

​Organized by The Party Company, Fire and Sand is the biggest beach bonfire party happening on Saturday. Past editions have featured top DJs and other artists performing live. This time around, in-demand disc jockey, Dope Caesar will be controlling the turntables and it promises to be a lot of fun.

Saturday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Venue: Landmark Beach

Access: N5K 

Movie in The Park Experience

It’s been a while since we name-dropped MIP, an outdoor movie event in Lagos. Incidentally, MIP is marking its 10th edition and while they are yet to announce the movies that will be shown, all you have to do in the meantime is bring your pillow and blanket and come have a great time.

Saturday, December 9, 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Venue: Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island

Afro Jazz Festival

Jazz music isn’t a fringe music genre confined to the West, but has engaged with indigenous sounds to its own distinct sonic flavor. And that’s why the inaugural Afro Jazz Festival feels important. It will feature names like Koye, Dotty the Deity, and Etuk Ubong. Other supporting artists include Remi, Simidele, The Folk Music and others.

Sunday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m.

Venue: Nostalgia, Lagos, Lekki 1

Access: N15,400

Lagos Food Fest

Lagos Food Fest returns for the 2023 edition. This year’s theme is titled A Fusion of Flavours, and it will have food vendors converge in Lagos for the festival and showcase their best culinary creations for the public. Certainly, it will feature mouth-watering cuisines on display, and if food is really your thing, then mark the date on your calendar.

Sunday, Dec. 10

Venue: Muri Okunola, Victoria Island

Access: Free