While on stage in Lagos, Nigeria for the first time, Gunna surprised fans with a guest appearance from Tyla, who joined the Atlanta rapper for a performance of their collaboration “Jump.” Gunna headlined the first night of Lagos’ Flytime Fest, a four-day music festival celebrating the African Diaspora that has previously hosted Megan Thee Stallion, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and more.
Gunna hit the stage at nearly 3 a.m. for a crowd of roughly 5,000 people (per festival representatives) packing out Lagos’s Eko Convention Center, a premier entertainment venue in the bustling West African metropolis. After performing a slew of hits including “One of Wun,” “Drip Too Hard,” and “Yosemite,” the beat to “Jump” dropped and audio of dancehall star Skillibeng’s feature filled the center before Tyla strutted out singing in a pilot’s cap, sequined mini skirt, and black bustier. “They ain’t never had a pretty girl from Joburg,” she purred as fans screamed. After performing her first verse, Gunna flirtatiously rapped his to Tyla as she danced across the stage. As the song rapped, Gunna turned the stage to Tyla, who performed her latest single “Push 2 Start” and even handed the mic to an eager audience member to (badly but enthusiastically) sing along.
After “Push 2 Start,” Gunna came back out and thanked Tyla with a hug before launching into more lively performances of songs including “Fukumean,” “Drip or Drown,” and “Bread and Butter.” He brought a fan onstage as he rapped his 2022 single “Banking On Me,” a romantic track he released on Valentine’s Day of that year. The young woman managed to rap the song back to him impeccably through tears. “I’ve married you in my dreams,” she said, hugging him. “I’ve sent you messages, respond please!”
Gunna headlined the set capped Flytime Fest’s Coca Cola Rhythm Unplugged concert that served as the festival’s first night. Rhythm Unplugged is a two-decade tradition that has helped break Nigerian talent like Tems and brought global acts like Ja Rule and Ashanti to the country. In a press conference with Flytime Promotions’ CEO Cecil Hammond prior to the concert, Gunna said, “Afrobeats, Nigeria, and African music itself is coming in big. It’s taking over the next wave. With my music, it resonates.” He promised the Flytime Fest crowd that this first concert of his in Nigeria wouldn’t be his last.
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Gunna’s forays into Afropop in addition to Tyla’s “Jump” include Victor Thompson’s “This Year (Blessings)” remix and Sarz’s “Happiness” with Asake. Last year, Rolling Stone named Thompson and Gunna’s song the seventh best Afropop song of 2023. While in Lagos, Gunna was seen in the studio with Afrobeats star Burna Boy.
In November Rolling Stone spoke to Gunna’s mother, Sheila Kitchens, about her son’s accomplishments after being released from jail in December 2022 under an Alford plea in Atlanta’s case against him, Young Thug, and members of their Young Stoner Life Record label. “Serge always been Serge, though,” she said of Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens. “That hadn’t changed, but I just see him taking care of himself. Now, that’s what it’s all about. You can’t take care of nobody else until you taking care of yourself. I’m just proud of him.”
