It’ll be the first-ever headline appearance in Nigeria for Santan Dave this October 16 and 17, when he takes to the 4,000-capacity Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (formerly National Theatre) in Lagos for the Nigerian leg of The Boy Who Played the Harp tour.

The two-night stop will also bring the global tour to its conclusion, making Lagos a fitting finale for an artist whose Nigerian heritage has always been a defining part of his artistry. Born David Orobosa Omoregie, Dave has built a strong following among Nigerians both at home and in the teeming diaspora, maintaining close musical ties to the country through collaborations with some of its biggest stars, including Tems on “Raindance,” a chart-topping cut from The Boy Who Played the Harp.

Presented by Live Nation and MASSIVE, tickets to the October 16 and 17 shows went live on June 2 and are still selling at santandave.com. The shows will doubtless be an incredible nexus for the different worlds Dave has come to represent. And with all these worlds converging under a roof for the first time in Nigeria, there are a few sets of people you can almost guarantee will be part of the mix.

The Lagos-London Crowd
Dave’s Lagos homecoming sits at an interesting intersection of two cultures, and you can expect that to reflect in the crowd. These are the people who can tell you which Lagos restaurant is having the best night and which London club Dave was spotted at most recently. They have one foot in Lagos and another in London, and somehow always seem to know what’s happening in both cities. Expect this demographic to cut across musicians, DJs, producers, stylists, photographers and other members of both cities’ creative scenes.

The Unhinged Correspondents
Like you’ll find at any concert, they aren’t accredited media professionals, but they hold an almost indispensable place in concert culture, capturing the moments that won’t make it into curated reviews and, oftentimes, getting bits from the event out faster than anyone else. They’ll be the ones documenting the little things that happen between the big ones, sharing them in real time across social media. They might well be the ones you’ll want to keep an eye out for if you sit this one out, because their posts may be the closest you get to experiencing the moments that matter almost in real time.

The Audacious Fashionistas
Music and fashion have always been connected, and nowhere is this link clearer than at live gatherings like this. The venue choice for this one, a theatre with comfortable seating arrangements and a certain cosiness, even makes it easier for attendees to let their wildest sartorial instincts run free. There is no standing-room pressure to dress for, no mud or debris to contend with and no packed dance floor
demanding practicality. So, don’t be surprised when you see some ridiculous fit choices and people who appear to have spent almost as much time putting their outfits together as Dave has preparing for the performance.

The Originals and Superfans
Being a huge Dave fan won’t save you from the jealousy that comes from seeing some of his most devoted listeners in Lagos this October. These are the ones who discovered him years ago, likely through tracks like “Thiago Silva,” “Samantha” and the early freestyles that first established him as one of the UK’s most compelling young rappers. They are the ones who can also go dialogue for dialogue with Dave and Kano on “Chapter 16” and who see themselves in the masculine introspection, insidious self-doubt and self-sabotage that run through much of The Boy Who Played the Harp. In their presence, simply knowing the hits may feel like a rather
inadequate qualification for calling yourself a fan.

The “I’m Here for One Song” People
This category might not be everywhere because they couldn’t care less about anything other than the one Dave song they came for. They’re probably waiting for “Location,” “Sprinter” or, more likely, “Raindance,” and once it comes on, expect them to scream louder than everyone else in the room.

Ultimately, for all the different reasons people will show up for Dave on October 16 and 17 in Lagos, the confluence of it all will be a huge part of what makes the homecoming indeed special. Tickets remain available at santandave.com.