Nigerian music sensation, Shallipopi, set social media buzzing after making a royal stop at the palace of the Oba Ewuare II in Benin City, where he delivered a special performance of his hit song, _Laho_ at the monarch’s request.
The memorable visit happened on Friday ahead of the singer’s headline appearance at the Goldberg Golden Fiesta, held later that evening at Garrick Memorial College.
A Symbolic Homecoming
The 25-year-old artiste arrived at the royal palace alongside his brothers and fellow musicians, Zerry DL and Famous Pluto.
Addressing members of the royal court, Shallipopi described the visit as a deliberate return to his roots, stressing that it was important for him to honour tradition before performing in his hometown.
He added that although his music career has taken him beyond Edo State, he and his team felt it was necessary to pay homage to the land that shaped them.
Oba Requests Live Performance
One of the standout moments of the visit came when the Oba revealed he was familiar with Shallipopi’s music and specifically asked the singer to perform Laho.
The request was met with excitement as the 2025 Headies “Best Rap Single” winner delivered the track live inside the palace grounds – without musical instruments.
Clips circulating online show members of the royal court enthusiastically joining the performance, singing along and responding to the call-and-response chants that echoed through the palace courtyard.
The scene captured a unique blend of modern street-inspired music and the centuries-old cultural traditions of the Benin Kingdom.
After the performance, Shallipopi knelt respectfully before the monarch to pay homage, while Oba Ewuare II offered traditional prayers and blessings.
The singer also visited orphanages and hospitals in the State as part of his activities during the trip.
The Global Success of Laho
Laho released in 2025 under Shallipopi’s Plutomania Records, has become one of the biggest songs of his career.
The track, rooted in the Bini language and street culture, blends Afrobeats with indigenous rhythms and celebrates resilience, success and Benin identity. The word Laho roughly translates to “please”, often used as an appeal for blessings or prosperity.
The song quickly gained global traction, recording over 70 million streams on Spotify and more than 90 million on YouTube Music. It also topped Apple Music charts in over 15 countries, including Nigeria, while appearing on Billboard and Shazam rankings.
The success of the track inspired multiple follow-ups, including Laho II with Burna Boy in April 2025, and Laho III featuring Rauw Alejandro later that July.
The remix with Burna Boy went on to win Best African Collaboration at the AFRIMA 2025 and helped secure Shallipopi his first BET Awards nomination.
Interestingly, this wasn’t Shallipopi’s first royal visit.
Back in 2024, he appeared at the palace alongside fellow Edo-born superstar, Rema, during Rema’s widely celebrated homecoming concert at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
During that visit, Rema performed an acoustic snippet of his global smash Calm Down for the Oba and members of the royal family.
As a sign of appreciation, the monarch later presented Rema with a special royal plaque a bronze artwork crafted by palace princesses in recognition of his role in promoting Edo culture on the global stage.
