By Adeayo adebiyi
In a time when cultural expression is increasingly finding new voices, Hamidat Anwo continues to distinguish herself as a powerful and intentional voice within the Yoruba traditional music space. Her recent performance at Eko Campus Fest 2024, reaffirmed why she is fast becoming a household name among lovers of indigenous music.
Born and raised in Lagos, Hamidat’s artistry reflects the layered complexity of Eko’s musical heritage, drawing from folk rhythms of the ’70s and ’80s while infusing them with modern sonic textures. At the cultural festival held at the Lagos State University (LASU) campus on July 1–2, 2024, her 35-minute performance stirred a wave of awe, nostalgia, and cultural pride that few contemporary performers have been able to summon.
The festival, which drew a large student and media presence, started off with typical Lagos energy, bustling, uncoordinated, and yet bubbling with anticipation. The stage saw various acts perform in the early hours, but it was not until Hamidat Anwo and her three-person cultural ensemble took the stage that the crowd truly quieted into reverence.
Clad in a beautifully handwoven aso-oke outfit that glimmered under stage lights, Hamidat opened her set with a stripped-down a cappella rendition of the popular traditional chorus “Ìlú Èyò”. Her voice, raw and resonant, pierced through the noise, forcing even the distracted crowd at the suya stand to pause and look.
There was no doubt from the first note that we were witnessing not just a singer, but an artist deeply invested in cultural revival.
What followed was a carefully curated performance that paid homage to Yoruba ancestors while boldly remixing their legacy. This is what i describe as a “brilliant fusion of old and new”. The highlight of her set came when she performed a newly arranged version of “Ìlú Èyò”, into which she inserted a self-written verse. This original addition, delivered in a mid-tempo Afro-percussive beat which was poetic, thoughtful, and unmistakably contemporary.
Her lyrics, which speak of unity across generations, received cheers from the crowd, especially the older attendees who nodded in admiration. The drums which were carved by hand and played live, met with digital basslines, creating a soundscape that felt both spiritual and modern.
As one attendee from the crowd remarked afterward, “She didn’t just perform. She brought our grandmothers’ stories to life and made them dance.”
From a technical perspective, Hamidat’s control over her vocal range was impressive. She moved effortlessly from alto to mezzo soprano, at times humming like a lullaby and at other times rising with the kind of emotional urgency only deep cultural memory can provoke. Her voice cracked slightly when she recited a verse about “ilé wa, ti a fi ilé kọ” – a line invoking the importance of home and heritage. That imperfection, whether intentional or not, made the moment even more human and heartfelt.
Critically, it is her ability to balance restraint and power that sets her apart. She knows when to let the words breathe and when to charge the air with vocal intensity. This is not the work of an amateur or an emerging artist still “finding her sound” this is the work of a professional who knows precisely what she’s doing with yoruba music.
The crowd engagement was instant. From the moment the beat dropped on her third song, a rendition of a rarely performed Eko worship chant, phones were in the air, recording. Later, after her performance ending, snippets of her act were already on social media under the hashtag #HamidatLiveAtEkoFest.
Even more telling was the backstage appearance of Chief Lanre Oloye, a respected Yoruba music historian, who commented during his speech: “She carries the weight of our lineage with grace. This one is not just a singer; she’s a keeper of memory.”
In an industry saturated with performers seeking virality for its own sake, Hamidat Anwo’s viral success feels different, it feels earned. Her commitment to Yoruba cultural preservation, combined with her innovation in arrangement and delivery, positions her as both a custodian and a transformer of tradition.
Her artistry is deliberate. She is not trying to make old things sound new simply to please modern tastes; she is forcing the modern ear to appreciate the depth of what has always existed.
Hamidat’s performance at Eko Campus Fest 2024 was more than entertainment, it was an act of cultural stewardship. Her mixture of vocal excellence, artistic originality, and stage charisma left a strong impression not just on the audience, but on the direction of indigenous music itself.
If her previous performances hinted at promise, this one confirmed it: Hamidat Anwo is a major force in the evolution of Yoruba traditional music, and her voice deserves the national (and international) stage.
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