Nobody saw it coming—and that was the magic.
Just when fans thought Shallipopi had delivered his final mic drop of the night, Grammy-winning Afrobeats giant Burna Boy walked onto the stage and sent the Iconiq Fest crowd into absolute pandemonium.
The surprise appearance unfolded late Friday night at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, during the closing moments of Shallipopi’s headline set. Dressed casually and moving with trademark ease, Burna Boy instantly shifted the energy in the room, turning an already electric performance into the defining moment of the festival’s debut edition.
What followed was pure Detty December gold.
The two artists thrilled fans with a live performance of “Laho II (Remix)”, their chemistry igniting deafening sing-alongs from the packed venue. Burna Boy then took the moment further, launching into his hit track “Dem Dey,” drawing another wave of screams and camera flashes.
At one point, a visibly excited Shallipopi paused to salute his guest, hailing Burna Boy as “ODG, the highest”—a line that sent the crowd into a fresh roar and sealed the moment as a generational co-sign.
Iconiq Fest, which ran from December 18 to 20, marked its first-ever edition with an impressive lineup and strong attendance across all three days. Chike, BNXN, and Shallipopi headlined the festival, supported by rising and established acts including Famous Pluto and Zerry DL.
Organisers recorded a smooth run throughout the event, with no major disruptions reported—an achievement in itself during Lagos’ packed end-of-year concert season. Still, it was Burna Boy’s unannounced cameo that quickly rose above every other highlight, dominating conversations online and offline within minutes.
Clips of the moment spread rapidly across social media, with fans praising both the spontaneity of the appearance and the growing bridge between Afrobeats’ global heavyweights and Nigeria’s new-wave stars.
In a December already overflowing with high-profile concerts, comeback shows and festival stages, Burna Boy’s surprise appearance served as a timely reminder: live music is at its most powerful when it’s unpredictable.
For Shallipopi, it was more than a guest appearance—it was a moment of validation on one of Lagos’ biggest stages. For fans, it was the kind of night they’ll talk about long after Detty December fades.
And for Iconiq Fest, the message was clear: sometimes, all it takes is one unexpected entrance to announce yourself on the city’s crowded festival map.