The Experience at 20: How One Night Became a Global Movement of Unity, Worship, and Excellence

By: Sesan Rufus Awobiye

Twenty years ago, in the heart of Lagos, an idea was born. It was simple — almost deceptively simple. Create one night where music, excellence, and community could breathe the same air. A night that would bring people together under the open sky, in the centre of Africa’s most vibrant city, to celebrate hope, faith, and possibility.

 

What no one could have predicted then was that this idea would transcend its own ambition. Today, The Experience has become far more than a concert — it has evolved into a global movement, a cultural phenomenon, and one of the most anticipated nights of worship anywhere in the world.

 

 

 

Each year, since 2006, there is a moment — usually around midnight — when everything seems to pause. The lights sweep across the crowd. Voices rise. And something indescribable settles over the venue. It is in that fleeting moment that the essence of The Experience becomes clear:

 

 

This is unity — real, visible, and powerful.

 

 

A Night Where Differences Disappear

 

 

For one night, Nigerians from different tribes, denominations, economic backgrounds, and generations stand shoulder to shoulder. People who do not look alike, think alike, or vote alike move to the same rhythm. They sway to the same songs. They lift the same prayers.

 

 

The rhythm is hope.

The sound is from heaven.

The atmosphere is possible.

 

 

In a country where differences often dominate headlines, The Experience tells a different story — one where unity is not just a dream but a lived reality, even if only for a night. Scripture captures this kind of power in Genesis 11:5, where God observes a people unified in intention. The organisers say this remains a guiding principle: that unity has always carried immense potential.

 

 

The Science — and Spirit — of Excellence

 

 

Yet, what sets The Experience apart is not just its spiritual depth but its execution. Behind the scenes, hundreds of young Nigerian professionals operate with the precision of a world-class production machine. Stage design, lighting, sound engineering, medical services, security architecture, media broadcasting — every layer reflects intentional planning.

 

 

 

“Excellence isn’t magic,” the visioners often say. “It is arranged.”

 

And each year, Nigerians prove they can deliver excellence at levels that rival the biggest productions anywhere in the world — when the systems and environment empower them to do so.

 

 

 

A Family of Artistes, Not Just a Lineup

 

 

Over the years, The Experience has built a rare kind of relationship with its ministers. Many have returned again and again, becoming woven into the fabric of the night. They are more than performers; they are family — people who have stood with the platform through growth, transitions, and milestones.

 

 

This year, the platform expands its family once again, welcoming Pastor Tolu Odukoya and Gaise Baba for the first time. Their arrival brings new energy, new sound, and new testimony. The night also celebrates the return of Solomon Lange, a warmly beloved voice whose reappearance after a long absence carries emotional weight for both the organisers and longtime attendees. His return feels symbolic — a reconnection at a moment when The Experience is calling its whole community back together.

 

 

Two Decades of Grace

 

 

Reaching 20 years is more than a number; it is a statement. A testament to God’s grace. A testament to resilience. A testament to a nation that, despite challenges, continues to find moments to unite, celebrate, and rise.

 

From its early years as an ambitious experiment to its evolution into a global broadcast watched on multiple continents, The Experience has grown into something Nigeria exports to the world — a story of possibility told through music and spirit.

 

 

This Year’s Theme: Jesus United

 

 

The theme for this milestone edition is Jesus United — a deliberate call back to the foundation that birthed the event. Because unity is never accidental. It begins with one heart, then another, then another, until families, communities, and nations begin to shift.

 

 

 

At its deepest level, The Experience believes that unity finds its purest expression in Christ — in shared purpose, shared grace, and shared responsibility for one another.

 

 

Not because people are the same, but because they choose to build something greater than themselves.

 

The Engine Behind the Movement

 

 

Every year, thousands of people power The Experience into existence — media partners, government agencies, medical teams, safety officers, technical crews, production professionals, vendors, volunteers, and, of course, the legendary DREAM TEAM. Their work is often invisible, but their excellence is the backbone of the platform.

 

 

They are the reason millions can watch from home. They are the reason crowds can gather safely. They are the reason the night has never failed.

 

 

A Night the World Pauses to Watch

 

As the 20th edition draws near, anticipation builds — not just in Lagos but in cities and communities around the world where The Experience has become an annual ritual. Whether attending physically at Tafawa Balewa Square or joining online, this year’s audience is stepping into a destiny-defining moment.

 

A moment that reminds Nigeria — and the world — that unity is powerful, excellence is achievable, and hope is still possible.

 

Because twenty years later, The Experience remains what it has always been at its core:

A simple idea. Executed with extraordinary grace.

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