MUSON Centre

The MUSON Centre is the headquarters of the Musical Society of Nigeria, founded in 1983 to promote classical music in the country. The centre stands in Onikan on Lagos Island, on the site of a former public garden, between the National Museum, City Mall, Onikan Stadium and Tafawa Balewa Square. Its facilities were unveiled by the then Prince Charles in 1995, and since then it has been the most important venue in Lagos for classical music, choral concerts and opera.

The centre has two main halls, the Agip Recital Hall and the Shell Zenith Bank Hall, along with the MUSON Garden, function rooms and La Scala, a restaurant with a patio. Concerts range from Western classical repertoire to Nigerian art music and choral works. The MUSON Choir has performed since 1995 and the MUSON Symphony Orchestra since 2005, and both appear in the centre's concert season and at the annual MUSON Festival. The halls are also hired for plays, festivals and other events, including the Lagos International Theatre Festival, which is scheduled at the centre in November 2026.

The MUSON School of Music, founded in 1989, is recognised by the Federal Government and is regarded as Nigeria's leading classical music conservatoire. It runs the MUSON/MTNF Diploma School and a basic school offering part-time and full-time training for children and adults, and it hosts graded music examinations.

A concert at MUSON suits music lovers, families and visitors looking for a cultural evening different from the city's clubs and lounges. Check the upcoming events page on the centre's website for dates and tickets, as programmes vary through the year and many concerts are one-off performances. Arrive early to eat at La Scala or walk in the garden, and dress smart casual. If you have accessibility needs or are bringing a large group, phone the centre in advance so that seating can be arranged.

Onikan is at the eastern end of Lagos Island, close to the bridges from Ikoyi and Victoria Island, so the centre is easy to reach by ride-hailing car. During the day, combine a visit with the National Museum and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, both a few minutes' walk away, and a stroll across Tafawa Balewa Square.