Ayear plagued with several controversies for the Sonic artiste resulted in a flawed headline show that could have certainly offered more.

As usual, the first day of October 2023 saw sonic artist and performer Olawale Ashimi Ọlọ́fọọ̀rọ̀, popularly known as Brymo, headline a concert that he tagged “order”, a usual Independence Day ritual for those who are familiar with the singer-songwriter.

“Order”, which was organised under that name for the second time on October 1st, 2023, was formerly known as “organised chaos,” a headline concert by the ace singer, songwriter, and performer, which has become a highly anticipated event, attracting a diverse audience of music lovers and fans of Brymo’s unique style. It was originally launched in 2016 and has gradually garnered momentum and progress since then. With each edition, Brymo pushes boundaries and delivers an unforgettable experience that showcases his artistic growth and evolution.

With 2022 being a good year for Brymo, including taking his ministry to his cult-following in places like Abeokuta, Ibadan, Abuja, and the United Kingdom, the son of a carpenter rounded up the year with a first ‘order’ which is arguably still his biggest headline concert till date.

The 2023 edition was held at Landmark Beach and, as usual, gave the fans a thrilling musical concert experience that continued to solidify the bold statement that the sonic artiste is one of the greatest performers on the continent. However, as interesting as that is, the concert was filled with noticeable flaws that made it a letdown. Here is a review of Brymo’s 2023 ‘order’ concert. 

Branding and Partnership

For an artiste on Brymo’s level, especially having scored a major screamer at his previous edition, the succeeding edition saw little or no branding or partnership, which was a major face-staring flaw for an artiste who accords himself as the “most powerful artiste in the world”. This lack of branding not only caused inconvenience for the fans but also reflected poorly on the artiste’s reputation. The absence of any form of signage (not even a backdrop) or clear indication of the venue left attendees feeling frustrated. A good number of fans ignorantly walked past the venue, only to later retrace their steps back to the venue after being lost.

Additionally, the stage was nothing close to the previous edition, as Brymo was made to perform on a confined stage, which was a bridge built over a pool. The lacklustre stage setup not only affected the overall atmosphere of the concert but also hindered Brymo’s ability to fully engage with his audience.

The confined space and inadequate lighting took away from the immersive experience that the fans could have enjoyed in a concert. The whole setting made it look more like a usual “weekend live band” or “listening party” scenario instead of a proper headline concert, which Brymo’s ‘order’ has been previously known for. A complete disappointment.

Participation

Despite the lack of sponsors or partnerships, the singer’s undeniable talent and magnetic stage presence continued to captivate his dedicated fanbase, which remained loyal through both turbulent and tranquil times. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable decline in attendance, forcing the singer to opt for a small and porous venue. The braggadocious Brymo, whose social media engagements have consistently wrapped him in controversies, “disbanded” a committed section of his fans known as “sigmas” sometime in July, and that decision amidst other controversies might have resulted in the low turn-out, making him record his lowest number of attendees for his annual headline concert in three years.

Hopefully a humbling moment for the sonic artiste whose annual headline concert, which was already boasting of about 1,500 fans, was taken aback by a turnout as low as 400 people.