First of all… Happy 2026 my Love. And what better way to do that than with a live performance from the lens of Asake. My first introduction to him was in 2023 with a song he featured on, Happiness by Sars, Asake, and Gunna. My curiosity about Asake grew and I found the song, MMS where he features Wizkid and every song I’ve discovered after that made me appreciate his art even more. Seeing his RedBull Symphonic solidified that I will see him live on the 3rd of January at The Dome in Johannesburg.
The Prelude
The evening began with a showcase of our own. Jazzworks and Thukuthela provided a refined introduction to the night. If you thought 3Step is a fleeting genre, think again. Their album The Most Wanted took the world by storm in 2025 with hit, after hit. Their live performance solidified that. GL_Ceejay joined them which added to the already great performance. And then there was Musa Keys who truly bridged the gap between the audience and the stage. There is a specific kind of pride in watching our local stars hold their own with such charisma before a global act performs. Musa danced, sang, and played a set. He was even willing to extend his set until the main act was ready.
Other opening acts included Nights in Lagos, Gibed Nights, Shluda De Guru and Luthohasbadmanners who graced the staged earlier.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Asake
The stage went dim, and his popular, “alalaki Asake” went off, and we knew it was show time. There he was dressed in a mustard suit, with a bit of a shimmer and the Papa Action shades. The first song was his most streamed song, Why Love. And just like that, my night was made, this is one of my faves. Why Love has a mix of AfroBeats, with a little bit of Piano. Someone on social media said “I am not fluid in Yoruba, but I’m fluid in Asake,” I knew exactly what they meant because I have no idea what Asake is saying or singing about in his songs but I know the lyrics.
I have always maintained that a performance is only as good as its visual narrative. The stage set-up was, in a word, lovely. It was spacious, well-lit, and served as the perfect canvas for Asake. The decision to bring a full orchestra was the highlight of the night. Hearing the raw elements of Asake’s catalogue layered with the elegance of violins elevated the music from “club anthems” to “cinematic experiences.” That, added with the South African touch when he brought onto stage a choir dressed in isiZulu regalia.
Other faves that he performed included Organise, Lonely at the Top, Nzaza & Ototo (which he used the instrumental of Tupac Shakur’s classic Do For Love), Joha and my favoritest of them all MMS featuring Wizkid. After MMS, I was content.
African Time
Excellence also requires respect for the audience’s time. Asake arrived an hour later than what was scheduled, a detail that cannot be overlooked. While the atmosphere remained expectant, it did feel like we were losing the momentum of the evening.
Apparently the delay was caused by the stage set up. But my question is, why wasn’t the stage ready for the main act? When one goes to a live performance and they arrive on time, a sixty-minute delay is a test of grace. Everyone else was on time, except the main act. South Africans being South Africans tried to make light of the situation by singing the national anthem, and dancing to what sounded like a playlist but this almost tainted the whole experience.
The Final Note
Asake is a performer who understands the power of his presence. From start to end, he was captivating. The fusion of the live instruments with his unique vocal delivery created a sanctuary of sound that was both high-energy and deeply soulful. What I saw on the Redbull Symphonic was delivered, with a South African twist. He even used the words “Haibo” and “Yebo” every chance that he could.
Overall, it was a lovely night. A lovely start to “A Live Performance A Month Keeps the Heart Happy…”. Would I do it again? Abso-damn-lutely.
No Comments