When Amapiano day parties took off in Lagos circa 2022, it was a riveting culture plot-mover seeing as the sonic landscape had been engulfed in Nigerian pop. It brought the magic of log-drums and the attention shift of Zulu and Xhosa languages lyricism to help more Nigerian partygoers experience a great party without being too conscious or without really digging it on the dancefloor. Three years later, we’ve still got Amapiano to thank for this cultural reset.

The culture of Nigerians, especially within the cosmopolitan hemispheres of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Warri, Enugu and other bustling climes, has always been a groovy one.

Prior to Amapiano’s influx in Nigeria, since the early ‘70s our indigenous sounds such as Juju, Highlife, Apala, etc. enjoyed rich global exports and media attention. Nigerians had a culture of creating dance-friendly music that shadowed our stressors at parties and kept crowds spellbound.

However, with Amapiano at the forefront, presently, a few cultural tastemakers like Bolaji Arab have observed a critical need to infuse more indigenous Nigerian sounds at Nigerian-themed parties. “It was not just about the music; it was about preserving the culture and giving it a bold new stage,” he said. This sentiment, according to Arab, birthed ‘The Wild Affair’, a night party that embraces the varied music styles, from Amapiano to Juju and Apala, to pop-fusions, among others. The experience has been a catholic conduit of music, youth culture and bohemian creative expression that has impacted the Nigerian party culture, both in Nigeria and across the United Kingdom where its diaspora editions have been held.

Catching up with its founder, Bolaji Arab, we dive into the sonic realms of The Wild Affair party, nitpicking the musical traditions that have been its muse; its growing workforce and what it represents to the art community in general; as well as his mission to preserve and promote more cross-cultural exchanges within the Nigerian entertainment community.

I launched The Wild Affair because I wanted to create a space that truly represents the sounds I grew up with, music that tells stories, holds spiritual weight, and brings people together. In a time when Western music dominates most of the nightlife scene, I felt the need to push back by spotlighting indigenous genres like Afrobeat, Amapiano, African Pop, Juju, and Apala. I wanted a party where people could hear the rawness of African music or the rhythm of talking drums and still feel like they were part of something fresh and current. It wasn’t just about the music, it was about preserving culture and giving it a bold new stage.

My journey into music started with artist management and digital distribution. Back in 2018, I founded B A Digital, and since then, I’ve helped artists accumulate over 40 million streams across platforms. I’ve worked as a music distributor, DJ, promoter, and A&R. I’ve always had a passion for bringing underrated talent into the spotlight. As a DJ, I’ve played at events across the UK – Birmingham, Leicester, Kettering and more, always pushing African sounds that might not make it into the mainstream but hit deeply with those who understand the culture. That experience made launching The Wild Affair feel like a natural next step.

I mostly spin Afrobeat, Amapiano, Afro Pop, Juju, Apala, Hip Hop and occasionally some street-hop that blends Yoruba folk styles with modern-day grit. You’ll hear artists like Seyi Vibez, Asake, Adekunle Gold, Young Jonn, and deep Amapiano cuts that haven’t even hit Shazam yet. I love transitions that move from nostalgic Juju instrumentals into modern club rhythmic sounds that remind you of Saturday morning radio in Lagos but still make sense on a Friday night in the UK. For me, it’s about building a bridge between traditional African vibes and today’s global club culture.

Since I started The Wild Affair, I’ve been able to book and pay over 20 DJs, many of whom are upcoming talents who hadn’t gotten those kinds of platforms before. I’ve also toured with some of them, helping them build their own following. Beyond music, I’ve collaborated with event decorators, ticketers, fashion designers, stylists, dancers, and visual artists from Nigeria and the UK, giving them work and exposure. In a time where a lot of attention is going to Western genres, I feel proud that I’ve contributed to keeping our scene alive by giving creatives from our communities an actual stage to shine.

For me, sustainability starts with investing in our own and building strong networks around our culture. We need to train the next generation of DJs and producers not just on the music side, but on branding, event production, and community building. I also think documenting our culture properly is key, recording sets, sharing stories behind the music, creating content that can travel beyond our local audience. Western culture has shown us how far storytelling and branding can take music. We can apply that to our indigenous sounds too, without watering them down.

Right now, I’m working on taking The Wild Affair to other European cities, Paris, Berlin, maybe even Amsterdam. I’m also developing a DJ mentorship program focused specifically on Afrocentric and indigenous sounds, to help new talents break through with authenticity. There’s also a visual project in the works, kind of like a short documentary that captures the energy of these events, the DJs behind the decks, and the untold stories of how we’re building something that’s rooted in culture but fit for the global stage.

My vision is for The Wild Affair to become the go to rave for anyone who wants something real, something rooted, something wild but culturally grounded. I want people to come to the party and feel connected to a deeper part of themselves whether they’re hearing the bounce of Afrobeat, Amapiano or the soul in a Juju riff. Long term, I see the brand growing into a global platform, not just events, but merchandise, education, and content that keep our music and culture in constant motion. The Western world has inspired me to think big but my foundation will always be African.