By Chinonso Ihekire
The nightlife scene in Lagos is sweltering with new experiences. There’s a culture of innovation in party and lifestyle experiences, resulting in a lot of importation from European culture such as electronic dance music raves.
From the bustling corners of Victoria Island to the blinding lights of Lekki, the city’s busiest social districts are teeming with new raves almost every weekend, showcasing contemporary electronic sounds from both indigenous and foreign talent.
Apart from the disc jockeys, including respectable names like Farati, Codename KND, Sounds of Ace, Kevn London, Axara, Calix, Deji, Sons of Ubuntu, Sigag Lauren, Bigfoot, Doghouse TV, Ekiti Sound, Aniko, and so much more, the community breathes through the air of patronage its event gets. On a typical rave night, a popular rave party could rake in at least 500 people, with packed nights like special themed parties, reaching up to 2,000 attendees.
One of the perks of attending a rave in Lagos is you get to enjoy quality music. It might sound like a sales pitch, but that’s the reality of these hyperactive DJ sets that colour the raves. The beats per minute (think SI unit for measuring a song’s tempo) of an average pop song is usually around 100, whereas an EDM song ranges between 120 and 160 bpm. The adrenaline is all right there in the music already, with the vocals sitting as cherries on pie.
Interestingly, while the Electro House, Techno and Acid Techno styles heavily influenced the scene earlier, the indigenous iterations from Nigerian and other African musicians have begun to find their way to the spotlight lately. There’s a lot of African EDM songs, including more popular styles like Amapiano, Bacardi, 3-step, among others, being churned out regularly and are on heavy rotation at these raves. It’s almost entirely difficult to get through an hour without shazaming one or two songs.
The rave scene is also notable for its inclusivity and anti-abuse culture, as it’s a popular fun-spot for queer individuals to unwind in the city without needless stigma. It’s also an avenue for fashion’s forwadest to showcase their daring style picks, also without needless stigma or abuse.
The best thing about these raves is that they’re always hidden in plain sight. Check out this list of notable and active rave events that would help you get started on the hypnotic world of electronic dance music in Lagos’ nightlife scene.
Mainland House
Run by popular EDM whiz Codename: KND, this monthly rave celebrates African EDM, with a strong knack for 3-step and House. It’s usually moderately packed, but well curated to always climax during the angel hours of a rave (12 am – 3am). It is held exclusively on the mainland suburbs of the city, with past editions being held in Yaba and Ikeja cities. It’s also moderately priced; per head spend ranges between N10,000 and N20,000.
Element House
One of the earliest debutants in the EDM rave section of Lagos’ nightlife, Element House by Spektrum is known for its eclectic catalogues, with many foreign disc jockeys being guest performers at their monthly raves. It’s a bit louder than the rest, with a huge appeal for Acid Techno and it is a favourite among the opulent in society, and is held at several posh venues across Victoria Island. The average spend here on logistics and access ranges between N20,000 and N50,000 per head.
Group Therapy
This is more of a sultry, unconventional, bohemian scene, with most of the music spinning around heavily melodic EDM and very psychedelic House. It’s usually a hyperactive groove, especially for the boys, and the dark lighting keeps it curious till the end. The average spend here is between N10,000 and N30,000 per head.
Raveolution
This is a must if you’re Afrocentric and looking for a slice of African EDM. Curated by talented musician Sounds of Ace, the rave is distinct for its mood-lifting, trippy African EDM. It’s also a good mix of rave heads and newbies, so it’s easier to blend in here than many other scenes as a first timer. It’s also usually held close to the Elegushi Beach at Lekki, so it’s always a chilly but fun night. The average spend is between N10,000 and N30,000 per head.
Engine Room Lagos
The music’s good. The crowd is friendly – a bit too isolated from each other though. The lighting and the technical management is top notch. It’s happening at least twice every month. It’s everything a regular rave needs to be. And maybe that’s also why it can be more. It’s one of those raves you attend, but can’t really pinpoint the thrill. But it’s definitely one you’d attend again.
Sweat It Out
One of the oldest players in the scene, the Sweat It Out collective arguably have the drunkest crowd, the sluttiest patrons, and the wildest nights. If the music was curated to climax from the top and not just the angel hours, it definitely would be the king of the EDM scene. It is held regularly near the Oba Elegushi Beach, in Lagos.
Sunday Service
Whether music is your religion or not, Sunday Service by Deji is one of the only rave functions on Sundays in the city. It’s usually held at a waterside bar and grill, with the music tuned to the softest House music cuts and moody sunsets accentuating the soothing and communal feel that summarizes it.
