Sammyflow Leads Old Skool Christmas Concert, Live Orchestra

By Salami Adeyinka

It was an electrifying moment for the audience at the Lagos Oriental Hotels when Nigeria’s award-winning trumpeter, Samuel Oghenejaboh with stage name Sammyflow, hit the podium with podium at the Old Skool Christmas Concert in Lagos.

Sammyflow is a an acclaimed orchestra director, and founder of Varie Entertainment. His latest performance spinned and thrilled many hearts, a demonstration of redefining how Nigerian classics and contemporary hits can be preserved, reimagined, and celebrated.

From the first note to the final ovation, the concert stood as a powerful statement of cultural inclusion, musical excellence, and artistic innovation.

The concert featured songs including Victor Uwaifo’s, Onyeka Onwenu, Funmi Adams, Bobby Benson, Cardinal Rex Lawson, King Sunny Ade, Sunny Bobo, Bonny M.

Others were Christy Essien Igbokwe, Oliver De Coque, Victor Olaiya, and Lagbaja, alongside contemporary favourites from Tuface, Jaywon, Omawumi, Flavour and more.

By merging Western classical instruments with African rhythms and melodies, the Varie Orchestra delivered a soundscape that transcended generations, tribes, and musical boundaries – proving once again that music is a universal language.

One of the evening’s defining moments was the powerful three-man stage combination of Sammyflow, Raphael Okoro, and Oluchi Odii. Their synergy, musical chemistry, and commanding presence elevated the performance to an entirely new level, earning thunderous applause and repeated calls from the audience for another edition of the concert.

The seamless collaboration between the trio was widely regarded as one of the show’s highlights, creating a rare, emotionally charged experience that resonated deeply with attendees.

The convener and visionary behind the Enchanted Concerts, Funmi Oyatogun, expressed admiration for the performance and overall outcome of the show. Visibly impressed by the artistic depth and audience reception, she reaffirmed her commitment to producing more orchestral experiences of this nature in the future.

Formed under Varie Entertainment, the Varie Orchestra is composed of some of Nigeria’s finest musicians — professionals with vast experience performing on the country’s biggest stages alongside leading artistes. While highly accomplished individually, this concert unlocked a new level of collective expression, challenging the orchestra to reinterpret classic Nigerian songs using Western instruments across multiple cultural styles.

The result was a bold, refreshing experience that highlighted not only technical excellence but deep cultural The sensitivity and creative brilliance.

Sammyflow said: “The only way to preserve the music of the old is by finding inclusion. It doesn’t have to be with the songs alone.

“Bringing Western classical instruments to play Afrobeats is the global household bubble today, and we are doing it on another level. This is just the beginning – we look forward to doing much more.”