Orlando Owoh Music Festival to Celebrate Highlife Legend in Lagos on November 7, 2026
The musical legacy of late Nigerian highlife legend Dr. Orlando Owoh will be celebrated in Lagos as the Orlando Owoh Music Festival 2026 prepares to bring together music lovers, performers and cultural enthusiasts for a special tribute to the veteran musician.
The festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at KYMA Beach, Elegushi, Lekki, Lagos. According to published reports, the event will run from 3 p.m. until 4 a.m. the following day, with performances spanning Kenery music, juju, highlife and Afrobeat, alongside live bands, disc jockeys and cultural displays.
The event is being presented by Lekan Jimoh, Chief Executive Officer of LJ Entertainment, in collaboration with the Orlando Owoh International Foundation, with Kenery Music powering the programme.
Celebrating Orlando Owoh’s Musical Legacy
Orlando Owoh remains an important figure in Nigerian music history, remembered for his distinctive sound, expressive storytelling, humour and socially observant lyrics. His music drew from Yoruba cultural traditions and reflected the everyday experiences of ordinary people.
Born Stephen Oladipupo Olaore Owomoyela, the musician built a long career as a singer and bandleader, performing with groups including the Omimah Band, the Young Kenneries and the African Kenneries International.
His distinctive approach to highlife, popularly associated with Kenery music, helped establish his place among the musicians who shaped Nigeria’s traditional popular music scene.
Owoh died on November 4, 2008, but his recordings continue to hold significance for admirers of classic Nigerian music.
Festival Seeks to Introduce His Music to Younger Audiences
Beyond the live entertainment, the festival is expected to provide an opportunity to introduce Orlando Owoh’s music to younger listeners while encouraging renewed interest in the preservation of Nigeria’s musical heritage.
The event has drawn comparisons with Felabration, the annual festival celebrating the life and music of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. However, the Orlando Owoh Music Festival seeks to establish its own identity around Owoh’s contributions to highlife and Kenery music.
Preserving recordings, documenting his career and making his work accessible to new audiences remain important parts of sustaining the legacy of influential musicians from earlier generations.
The festival could therefore serve as a meeting point for fans of traditional Nigerian music and younger audiences interested in exploring the roots of the country’s contemporary sound.
Event Details
Event: Orlando Owoh Music Festival 2026
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 3 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day
Venue: KYMA Beach, Elegushi, Lekki, Lagos
Featured music: Kenery, juju, highlife and Afrobeat
Additional attractions: Live bands, DJs and cultural performances
Presented by: LJ Entertainment and the Orlando Owoh International Foundation
The Orlando Owoh Music Festival is set to provide an opportunity for music lovers to honour one of Nigeria’s notable musical figures while celebrating the traditional sounds and cultural influences that helped shape the country’s music industry.
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