Veteran comedian and master of ceremonies Gbenga Adeyinka is bringing his long-running comedy and music franchise, Laffmattazz with Gbenga Adeyinka and Friends, back to Abeokuta for an Independence Day edition on Thursday, 1 October 2026.
Tagged The Next Chapter, the Abeokuta stop will hold at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Marquee from 3pm, continuing a 2026 tour that has already taken the Laffmattazz brand through major Nigerian cities and into international markets.
The return to Abeokuta is significant for Adeyinka, who is closely associated with the city and has repeatedly taken Laffmattazz beyond Lagos into audiences across the South West. Over the years, the show has developed into a travelling entertainment platform that combines stand-up comedy, live music and crowd interaction, while giving established performers and emerging acts a shared stage.
That touring model has become central to the Laffmattazz identity. Rather than concentrating major comedy productions in Lagos alone, Adeyinka has consistently taken the show to cities including Ibadan, Akure, Ilorin and Abeokuta, helping to build a wider live entertainment circuit outside Nigeria’s traditional commercial centre.
In a television interview earlier this year, Adeyinka reflected on the thinking behind the franchise and said his ambition had been to help develop a new generation of comedy talent while building audiences in different cities. The 2026 edition, themed The Next Chapter, has expanded that vision further, with Canada joining the tour for the first time.
The tour opened in Ibadan in April before moving to Akure in June, followed by dates in Canada. Abeokuta is the next major Nigerian stop, with the tour expected to conclude in Lagos later in the year. The structure reflects the brand’s steady evolution from a regional comedy show into a broader entertainment platform with both domestic and diaspora reach.
Adeyinka has described the Abeokuta edition as a homecoming after the Canada leg of the tour. In announcing the event, he said the Independence Day show was personal to him and would celebrate laughter, unity and national pride through comedy, music and dance.
The choice of Abeokuta also gives the event a strong cultural setting. The Ogun State capital has become an increasingly visible destination for major entertainment and cultural events, while remaining rooted in a distinctive identity shaped by history, arts, food and tourism. Podium News recently explored that heritage in its feature on Olumo Rock and Abeokuta’s living history.
Laffmattazz has a long relationship with the city. Previous Abeokuta editions have drawn comedians, musicians and entertainment lovers to the OOPL Marquee, reinforcing the venue’s role in the city’s growing events calendar. The show has also used its touring format to bring large-scale comedy productions closer to audiences who might otherwise have to travel to Lagos for similar experiences.
That approach matters at a time when Nigeria’s creative economy is becoming more geographically diverse. Live entertainment is increasingly helping cities build their own cultural calendars, attract visitors and create opportunities for event vendors, hospitality businesses, performers and local creative workers.
For Adeyinka, who has spent decades across comedy, television, radio and event hosting, Laffmattazz has become one of the clearest expressions of that philosophy. The show’s survival across different entertainment eras has depended on reinvention, touring and a willingness to combine established names with newer performers.
The 2026 tour also follows a period of international expansion. In 2025, Laffmattazz staged its first United Kingdom tour, with performances in several cities. This year’s addition of Canada extends that diaspora connection and gives the brand a wider platform for Nigerian comedy abroad.
For the Abeokuta edition, the promotional material lists regular admission at ₦5,000 and VIP admission at ₦15,000. Table packages are advertised at ₦500,000 for Silver, ₦1 million for Gold and ₦2 million for Platinum. The event is billed for 3pm at the OOPL Marquee and is powered by FirstBank.
The Independence Day timing gives the show an added layer beyond entertainment. Comedy has long played a role in how Nigerians process public life, social change and everyday pressures, and a large live gathering on 1 October offers a familiar mix of humour, music and shared experience.
Adeyinka’s wider journey with Laffmattazz also reflects the durability of live comedy in an industry increasingly shaped by social media, skits and digital content. While online platforms have changed how audiences discover comedians, large live shows continue to offer something different: immediate audience reaction, communal energy and the unpredictability of performance in the room.
For Abeokuta audiences, the October event is therefore both another stop on a national tour and a continuation of a relationship between Laffmattazz and the city that has been built over several years.
Podium News will continue to follow major entertainment events shaping Nigeria’s live creative scene. Readers attending the Abeokuta edition can share their experience with us after the show. Artists, promoters and event organisers seeking coverage, interviews or a Podium News Business Showcase feature are also welcome to contact the newsroom.
