The inaugural edition of WithChude Live, Africa’s first-ever talk concert, held on Sunday, April 27th, 2025 at The Palms, Lekki, Lagos, welcomed an extraordinary lineup of guests who showed up in full support of storytelling, healing, and the power of vulnerability.
The esteemed guests in attendance, Minister of Culture, Gov. Sanwoolu, Arunma Oteh, Gov. Amaechi, Dabota Lawson, Hon. Hannatu Musawa, Pastor Godman Akinlabi, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Jimi Agbaje, Sienne Allwell-Brown, Hon. Desmond Elliot, Hon. Seun Fakorede, Yeni Kuti, Morayo Brown, Mai Atafo amongst many others. Their presence underscored the cultural significance of the event and the deep resonance WithChude holds for leaders and changemakers across generations.
Hosted by celebrated media entrepreneur and storyteller Chude Jideonwo, it was an evening of honest conversations, emotional reflection, and collective healing. From panel conversations with leading voices to heartfelt readings from Chude’s forthcoming memoir, ‘How Depression Saved My Life‘, the event struck a powerful chord with the audience.
The evening featured a dynamic blend of one-on-one interviews and engaging panel conversations, bringing together some of the most influential voices in culture and entertainment. Chude Jideonwo held intimate sit-downs with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Funke Akindele, Falz, Bovi, and Pastor Jerry Eze, offering the audience rare access to some of the country’s most respected figures.
The event also featured two powerful panel sessions: one with Teni, Taaooma, and Kiekie, and another with Ruth Kadiri, Hauwa Lawal, and Moses Bliss, each contributing to the evening’s atmosphere of truth-telling and emotional resonance.
#WithChude Live was not just a show, it was a movement. And the calibre of dignitaries in the room affirmed its impact.
“This wasn’t just entertainment. It was sacred,” one guest shared. “To see this many powerful people come together for truth and healing? That’s history in motion.”
As the #WithChude talk show continues to pioneer new territory in African storytelling, its debut talk concert sets a high bar for future editions and meaningful cultural experiences on the continent.
