Akbar Gbajabiamila and Godfrey are taking ONE54 from your headphones to the stage, with a live celebration of African stories, music, fashion and community in Santa Monica on January 28, 2027.
Some conversations deserve more than a pair of headphones. They need a room full of people who recognize the jokes, understand the cultural references and have their own stories to tell.
ONE54 is preparing to create exactly that atmosphere. The podcast hosted by Akbar Gbajabiamila and Godfrey has announced its first live podcast experience in the Los Angeles area, taking place on Thursday, January 28, 2027, at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
And judging by the announcement, the hosts are planning more than a conversation behind microphones. Live music, a fashion show, food and special guests are all on the lineup.
Two Nigerian voices, a continent of stories
ONE54’s premise is ambitious: celebrate Africa’s 54 countries through the stories of the people connected to them.
The podcast spotlights African entertainers, athletes and business leaders while exploring the experiences that shape life across cultures. Identity, family expectations, career struggles and the cultural clashes of growing up African in America are central to its conversations.
Its hosts approach those subjects from different backgrounds. Akbar Gbajabiamila brings experience as a former NFL player and television host known for American Ninja Warrior and The Talk. Godfrey brings his perspective as a comedian and actor, with impressions, humor and storytelling rooted in his Nigerian heritage.
That combination gives ONE54 an inviting premise: come for the personalities, stay for the experiences that sound surprisingly familiar.
Beyond the celebrity headlines
A recognizable guest might get someone to press play. The personal story gives them a reason to keep listening.
Adekunle Gold’s ONE54 conversations, for example, explore his Nigerian roots, musical influences, ownership of his masters, family and sickle cell. An episode with Ling & Lamb turns toward intercultural marriage, Nigerian pride and navigating American slang.
These subjects open the door to questions that reach far beyond entertainment. How much of home do you carry into a new environment? What happens when different cultural expectations meet inside a relationship? And how do you build success while holding on to the parts of yourself that made you?
For audiences interested in African creativity and diaspora experiences, those questions give ONE54 plenty to work with.
Now, the audience gets a seat in the room
According to the ONE54 team’s announcement, the January live show will celebrate African culture, stories and community, with Akbar and Godfrey at the center of the experience.
Guests can expect:
- A live podcast experience with Akbar & Godfrey
- Special guests, to be announced
- Live music
- A fashion show
- Food
The mix suggests an evening designed to let audiences experience African creativity in several forms—from the stories shared onstage to the music and fashion surrounding them.
There is also something appealing about taking a podcast into a theater. Listeners who usually experience the show separately will have a chance to react together. A familiar cultural reference could draw a knowing laugh across the room; a personal story could spark a conversation long after the show ends.
That possibility is part of what makes this announcement interesting. ONE54 is inviting its audience to become a community they can actually meet.
Save the date
Event: ONE54’s First Live Podcast Experience
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2027
Venue: The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage
Address: 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Tickets: Visit the ONE54 ticket page
The email announcement does not specify the start time, ticket prices or special guests. Organizers say more details will follow. Check the ticket page for current booking information.
Until then, listeners can get acquainted with the show through iHeart and Apple Podcasts.
Join the conversation
Would you attend ONE54’s first live show—and who would you love to see join Akbar and Godfrey onstage? Share your dream guest in the comments.
Sources
ONE54 Team — live event announcement supplied by email.
ONE54 live show ticket page
ONE54 on iHeart — podcast information and episodes
ONE54 on Apple Podcasts
Image: ONE54 podcast artwork via iHeart.
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