Author: Natasha Decker

Late on April 24, Lagos-based musician Lady Donli kicked off her Pan African Rockstar tour at Baby’s All Right, a music venue and bar in Brooklyn. Known as a multi-genre artist whose sound is an alternative amalgamation of Afrobeat, R&B, jazz, funk, and highlife, the 27-year-old performer hit the stage at around 11 p.m.

By that time, standing space in the venue was body-to-body packed with attendees patiently and eagerly awaiting the “alté” artist’s magic. Doors for the concert opened at 9:00 p.m. and Donli’s NYC fans were entertained with musically diverse mixes by Sae The DJ. Unlike Donli’s alté sound, the night’s introductory setlist still managed to reflect a varied array of Blackness that the singer’s music does too.

SGaWD, the night’s opening act, had the crowd undeniably hyped and enthralled by her captivating, fun, and upbeat stage time. The talented Naija babe gave a strongly entertaining show – dancing, rapping, and singing her hits “Boytoy,” “Telfar” and “POPSHIT.” She also playfully performed her latest single “Juicebox,” a sexually charged anthem for the ladies. Before leaving, the rising artist welcomed an excited concertgoer onstage to receive a tantalizing, up close and personal tease.

Then it was time for the night’s highly anticipated headliner. The artist, born Zainab Elizabeth Donli, was accompanied by a four-piece band including a pianist, beat producer, drummer, and guitarist. Although not members of Lagos Panic – a Nigerian rock band Donli fronts – the instrumentalists at her Brooklyn concert contributed to her rockstar performance immensely. The live instrumentalists punched up the singer’s songs with solo performances of their own. Quite seamlessly – despite a brief moment of technical difficulties – the alté artist and the Brooklyn band relayed her recognizable melodies in fresh ways. Cohesively, they captured, performed and truly enlivened how dynamic Donli’s sound and space is in contemporary music.

The touring artist’s stage presence undeniably exuded the confidence of a true performer. Being true to the bravado-carrying Nigerian rockstar she now embodies, she opened the show with her self-assured anthem, “NUMBER 1 MOTHERF*CKER.” While performing other hits off her 2023 sophomore album Pan African Rockstar – including the title track, “Hello Lady,” “Your Fantasy,” and “Nothing2Something” – Donli was an exuberant ball of energy who shared a calculated mastery of her voice. For example, her delivery often included high-pitched vocal inflections that echoed one of the unique subtleties imparted on her tracks.

Amid her enjoyment-inducing time on stage, the alté artist regularly interacted with the crowd and directed them to actively engage with her performance. Concertgoers sang along and laughed at Donli’s jovial commentary throughout the show, with the musician candidly (and perhaps jokingly) sharing that she’d previously wanted to be a stand-up comedian.

Some of the most memorable moments of the night — when the audience and performer seemed most at one — were when Donli sang her longer-standing songs “Classic” (2018), “Suffer Suffer” (2019), and “Take Me Home” (2019).

“The last time I performed in New York was on my 22nd birthday,” the Lagos Panic lead singer reflected during the concert. “That was a while ago, but I’m super happy to be able to be here and experience this at this level right now.”

Over a decade after her musical debut, Donli’s passionate Brooklyn concert indeed showcased her as a Pan African rockstar with an expansive sound, stage presence, and star quality.

Donli’s North American Pan African Rockstar tour includes additional dates in Los Angeles and Toronto. Follow her on Instagram and X.