Have you ever tried speaking only your mother tongue for a full minute without accidentally slipping into English?
Harder than it sounds, right? You’ve probably seen those hilarious clips on social media where a celebrity is challenged to speak only Yoruba for a few minutes, and within seconds, they’re slipping back into English. The struggle is always real… and always funny.
Those clips? They’re from Masoyinbo — the game show that’s been making waves by playfully testing how fluent our faves really are in their mother tongue.
So when the team at EAYoruba decided it was time to take Masoyinbo beyond the screen and into real life, they weren’t just planning an event. They wanted to create an experience. One where guests wouldn’t just watch culture — they’d walk into it, feel it, taste it, and remember it.
When they shared this idea with us at Exposé, we knew instantly what it meant. It wasn’t about props and lights alone. It was about crafting a living, breathing story guests could step into, taste, hear, and carry home long after the night ended.
And that’s where our journey began.
Setting the Tone Right from the Start
We knew first impressions would set the stage for everything to come. So we created a walkway inspired by the grand gates of Yoruba palaces. Bamboo and palm fronds formed the structure, draped in regal Aso Oke, and softened by earth-toned carpets underfoot. It wasn’t just a path into the venue. It felt like stepping into heritage itself.
Guests were welcomed by hostesses dressed in elegant native attire who offered name tags thoughtfully written in Yoruba. It wasn’t a routine check-in. It felt personal, warm, and rooted in identity.
The walkway led guests through a tunnel-like frame lined with Ankara fabric and traditional mats, guiding them toward a giant media wall. Here, people paused to take photos, share laughs over cultural trivia, and visit sponsor booths that blended naturally into the story rather than feeling like side notes.
Inside, the Story Unfolded
As guests moved inside the hall, the atmosphere deepened. The stage was more than a centerpiece. It carried Yoruba motifs and talking drums that spoke to tradition while balancing modern production. Seating was arranged to bring everyone close to the moment, and even the table decor told its own quiet story.
At six in the evening, a live band began to play, weaving melody and mood together. By seven, the space felt electric. Drummers and traditional chants welcomed everyone, and Alayinka the oriki chanter led the transition into the heart of the show.
Asiri, the host, kept things engaging and personal, mixing humor, cultural banter, and audience games that turned guests from passive viewers into part of the performance.
Serving Heritage on a Plate
Culture wasn’t just in what guests saw and heard. It was also in what they tasted. Pounded yam and local rice from IleIyan by Pods, handcrafted local snacks, and palm wine provided by Orijin turned the meal into its own tribute to heritage. Every dish felt intentional, part of the evening’s storytelling rather than an afterthought.
Moments That Stayed Long After
As the night moved forward, moments layered themselves like stories in a folktale. A heartfelt keynote from GText Holdings. Laughter echoing from Alibaba’s comedy. Music from Dare Level that made guests sway and smile.
Then came the moment that lit up the room. When Adebisi Roquebat, chosen from the audience, took home a brand-new car. It felt bigger than a giveaway. It felt like a celebration of what the night stood for — that our stories and culture deserve center stage.
The Work Behind the Wonder
What guests felt on the night came from weeks of planning and countless details. Meetings, early site visits, creative brainstorming, and fast decisions on event day itself when we faced tight setup windows and power challenges. But what mattered most wasn’t the hurdles. It was that guests left carrying something more than photos. They carried a feeling.
Why We Love What We Do
At Exposé, this is why we create. Not just events, but experiences that people walk into and remember because they felt something real. Whether it’s a cultural showcase like Masoyinbo or an international brand launch, the heart of what we do is always the same.
We believe people may forget what was said or shown. But they never forget how it felt.
If you have an idea ready to move beyond screens and slides into something guests can live and remember, we’d love to bring it to life with you.
Because some stories aren’t meant to stay behind the screen. They belong in the room, in the music, in the laughter — and most of all, in the hearts of everyone who was there.
