Asake: Ikenna Onyekwere, Dance Crew Secure International Visas for ‘Lungu Boy’ Tour

Choreographer Ikenna Onyekwere and nine other members of his dance crew, tmGreatness, have successfully obtained international visas to perform during the 2024/2025 ‘Lungu Boy’ tour. This significant achievement was made possible by Afrobeats sensation Ololade Ahmed, popularly known as Asake, who facilitated the visa process ahead of his highly anticipated tour.

This gesture by Asake is particularly noteworthy given the challenges Nigerians often face in securing international visas. For dancers, the situation is even more difficult, with financial constraints, eligibility issues, and other risk factors posing significant hurdles.

In a social media post in July, Ikenna shared some of the struggles he and his team encountered while trying to obtain Schengen visas. He highlighted the rarity of such support in the industry, recalling that the last time a Nigerian artist took local dancers on an international tour was during the era of Psquare and Yemi Alade.

“Asake took care of everything for my team. Some of us were initially denied visas, but he covered the costs for a second attempt. It’s rare to see an artist who genuinely wants to see their dancers grow in their careers,” Ikenna shared.

Ikenna, who also goes by his moniker, Ikenna, emphasized how significant Asake’s support was for him, especially in light of the stereotype that creatives like him are only seeking opportunities to leave Nigeria.