How #DettyDecember; Turned Truly Dirty At #Nativeland19 Concert

NATIVELAND party promised to bring the world of The NATIVE online magazine to real life. The idea was supposed to showcase artistes that are the current rave, it was supposed to be a one stop event with clothing brand vendors, food trucks. It was supposed to be THE millenial and Gen Z event that brings online communities to real life, an annual celebration of Nigerian Music.

It tried. It actually did bring people out. Because tickets were sold out. Everybody was going. Sadly, it looked like the organisers were less than prepared to accommodate everyone.

The event held at Muri Okunola park in Victoria Island; an outdoor venue that should have been adequate if crowd control and security measures were properly taken care of. Regular tickets were sold for 10 thousand naira and VIP tickets were 25 thousand. A lot of money that should guarantee safety, security and a good time.

It didn’t. The event started on time but the sound equipment developed a mind of their own (or was it engineering?) At some point, the artist on stage dropped the mic and walked off. It was that bad.

During Fireboy’s performance, the VIP stage fell apart! It was a nightmare from that point. Bodies lumped together sweating, people in the audience developing anxiety attacks, phones getting stolen and a stampede to get out of the venue.

Oh! And uniformed security men beating on people as they panicked and tried to get out, added more fuel to an already raging fire.

As expected, the reactions on social media have been brutal.

People jumping over fences and breaking their legs just to get out. Because security wouldn’t let anyone in or out. So many people bleeding. Phones & money stolen… shoes lost. I can’t even 😢😢😢 #NATIVELAND19

— MBF (@LiveLoveLams) December 20, 2019

I m confused at people saying pity the organizers of #NATIVELAND19
What is the capacity of the entire venue ?
What is the capacity for the space created for regular tickets?
What is the capacity for the VIP section ?
How many tickets did you sell?
Let’s stop with mediocrity

— Oluwakemi (@anythingoye) December 20, 2019

HOW ARE YOU SO GREEDY TO THE POINT THAT YOU CANNOT PUT A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU ADMIT TO YOUR SHOW ?????? YOU BROUGHT CROWD ENOUGH TO FIT 02 CENTER TO FUCKING MURI OKUNOLA PARK ? You’re actually all crazy. @NativeMag #NativeLand2019 #NATIVELAND19

— ifbnw (@ifbnw) December 19, 2019

The fact that the gate was pushed down, people were tasered, phones were stolen, people were beaten by police and the VIP stage collapsed all in one event is honestly so shameful and I hope I get a refund for this mess #NATIVELAND19

— 🤮 (@thiccyyniccy) December 20, 2019

Fuck you #NATIVELAND19. Finally got my sons home safely only to hear of kids in hospital due to your recklessness and greed. Gate fell on their school friends. Another friend was beaten by the police.

— Emma Balogun (@emsiebeee) December 20, 2019

Amid all these, the organisers released a statement apologizing for the mess.

Will there be consequences for putting concert goers through trauma like this? Will there be consequences for overcrowding a venue? Will there be consequences for not making provisions for emergency medical services? Will concert goers be getting a refund? Will there be a lawsuit coming from people injured at the venue?

These are the real questions.