2025 Afrobeats breakout singer Folarin Odunlami, popularly known as Fola, has apologised to fans following the abrupt end of his first headline performance at the Mainland Block Party, which was stopped due to safety concerns after the venue reportedly exceeded its capacity.
The event, held on Monday, December 15, at the Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was disrupted after a large crowd led to overcrowding, rowdiness, and reported breaches of safety regulations. Several fans complained of poor coordination, with some ticket holders unable to access the venue despite having purchased tickets.
Fola, who performed briefly before leaving the stage, addressed the incident on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, expressing regret over the situation. “My people, I’m really sorry about how last night went,” he wrote, noting that safety concerns prompted the halt. “People were hurt and that should never happen. I had to stop the show because safety comes before anything else. I hear you on all fronts, and we’re working to make things right.”
Dangbana Republik, Fola’s record label, also issued a statement acknowledging lapses during the event. The label confirmed that the venue’s capacity was exceeded, creating unsafe conditions, and stressed that the performance was stopped immediately to protect fans. “Your safety remains non-negotiable to us,” the statement read.
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The incident drew criticism on social media, with fans blaming both the organisers and the artiste for inadequate planning and poor crowd control. As of Tuesday, the Mainland Block Party organisers had not released a statement addressing the disruption.
Fola, known for hit songs such as Lost and Bye Bye, remains one of the most talked-about new acts in the Afrobeats scene in 2025, and both he and his label have pledged to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in future performances.