Afrobeats rising star Folarin Odunlami, popularly known as Fola, has apologised to fans following the abrupt end of his first headline performance at the Mainland Block Party.
The concert, held on Monday, December 15, at the Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, was halted after organisers reported that the venue had exceeded its approved capacity, creating safety risks. Overcrowding and rowdiness prompted the decision to stop the show.
Several attendees expressed frustration, claiming that some ticket holders were unable to gain entry despite purchasing tickets. Complaints also centred on poor event coordination and crowd management.
Fola addressed the situation on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, apologising for the disruption.
“My people, I’m really sorry about how last night went,” he wrote. “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.”
The event, highly anticipated by fans of Fola’s 2025 breakout hits like Lost and Bye Bye, sparked criticism online, with many blaming both the singer and the organisers for the mishandling of the crowd.
Dangbana Republik, Fola’s record label, also issued a statement acknowledging the safety lapses. The label confirmed that the performance was halted immediately once fans were at risk and stressed that they are working with organisers to address the concerns.
“At no point should fans have been put in unsafe conditions. Your safety remains our top priority,” the label said.
As of this report, the Mainland Block Party organisers have yet to release an official statement on the incident.
