At Tony Elumelu’s Yuletide Soirée, Superstars, Tycoons, Party in Dreamy White

Lanre Alfred

Yes, there’s money, and then there’s class. The two are often separated. But in billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu, they merge. The Chairman, United Bank for Africa is both a man of money and panache. He is also a man of great repute.

As Lagos’ December sky donned its silky garb, Elumelu’s residence became a surreal Nirvana of sorts. Inside his Eden, the air itself shimmered in anticipation of an annual fest as guests – glamorous, illustrious, draped in pristine white – glided through the gates and into a world where elegance is law and joy pirouettes as the currency of the night.

In the constellation of high society, only one star burns with a light so bright, so steady, and commanding, that it bends the orbit of the elite toward it every December: Tony Elumelu. The Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation is not merely a man of wealth. He is a master architect of influence, a luminary who merges affluence with artistry, power with poise. His 2024 Yuletide White Party stands as a testament to his singular ability to summon the finest of Nigeria’s movers and shakers into one grand, glimmering space, and leave them enthralled.

Elumelu wields his affluence with the deftness of a peerless maestro of finance and fun. His annual white-themed extravaganza is more than a party – it is a cultural concerto, a dance of class and charisma that no other magnate can match. Where others host gatherings, Elumelu orchestrates experiences. His parties are not merely attended; they are celebrated, immortalized in social lore and splashed across the annals of affluence.

In Elumelu, the jungle of high society finds its lion. The comparison is no idle metaphor. He embodies the grace, the power, and the effortless dominance of the Panthera Leo. When he roars – with a gesture, an invitation, a quiet word-the ranks of Nigeria’s elite stir. They heed the call, their admiration hardly borne of fear, but of reverence.

In a landscape cluttered with the gauche displays of new money, where opulence too often descends into ostentation, Elumelu’s gatherings stand apart. His affluence is not clad in garish gold or suffocating damask; it is draped in an understated sophistication. His parties breathe with the freedom of authentic class – a world where wealth is worn lightly, like a well-tailored suit.

This is why, year after year, Nigeria’s high society answers his summons. The captains of industry, the titans of politics, the icons of entertainment, and the divas of fashion – they all converge on his estate, bound by the invisible gravity of his presence.

The 2024 Yuletide White Party was a night sculpted in splendour. The guests sauntered into an atmosphere that melded the crisp purity of white with the warmth of shared revelry. The residence, expansive and grand, glowed like a beacon of cultivated taste. This was no mere house; it was a sanctuary of style, a temple where affluence and elegance intertwined – and the creme de la creme of Nigeria’s high society drifted through the evening, enchanted. 

The guest list read like a roll call of excellence – a testament to Elumelu’s unparalleled magnetism. And then, the music. The night’s pulse quickened as Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido took the stage, each performance a crescendo of energy and artistry. The crowd – luminaries in their own right—swayed and sang, their voices rising in jubilant harmony. Favour added his magic to the night, their melodies weaving a rich tapestry of sound that blanketed the air.

Elumelu, the sovereign host, was not content to merely observe. He danced – his movements a subtle reminder that joy, too, is a form of wealth. His wife, Dr. Awele, joined him, their shared smiles a portrait of enduring love amidst the dazzle of high society.

What makes Elumelu’s gatherings transcend the ordinary is his meticulous artistry. Hosting, in his hands, is an elevated craft. The ambiance, the decor, the flow of conversation – everything is orchestrated to perfection. The champagne flows not merely as a beverage, but as liquid celebration. The delicacies are not just food, but curated delights designed to enchant the palate.

His home itself stands as a testament to this mastery. Unlike the gilded cages of lesser magnates, Elumelu’s residence exudes a refined grandeur. Here, affluence is not screamed but whispered. The beauty is not in excess but in balance, in the seamless blend of comfort and magnificence.

In a country where high society is often marred by empty spectacle, Tony Elumelu has rewritten the narrative. His parties are not exercises in vanity, but celebrations of connection, influence, and shared joy. He is a magnate who understands that true wealth lies not only in numbers but in the lives one touches, the experiences one creates.

His Yuletide White Party is not just an event; it is a phenomenon. It is a night that sets the tone for the year’s end, a crescendo of elegance that leaves an indelible mark on the social calendar. While others strive to emulate, Elumelu innovates. Where others flaunt, he inspires.

Elumelu’s life – curated, cultured, and captivating – has earned him the moniker of the “King of Soft Life.” This pop-culture phrase, synonymous with ease and opulence, fits him like a bespoke suit. But in his hands, “soft life” is more than indulgence. It is a philosophy of grace under success, of dignity wrapped in delight.

When rapper M.I Abaga immortalized him in the lyrics of “Soft Life Tony,” it was not mere flattery. It was recognition of a man who lives his wealth with a poetry that few can achieve. His life – filled with jet-set adventures, exquisite tastes, and generous philanthropy – is a masterclass in living well.

As the final notes of music drifted into the Lagos night, as the last glass of champagne was savoured, the 2024 Yuletide White Party drew to a close. But its echoes lingered. In the days that follow, social media will buzz with posts and hashtags – as photos gleam, videos sparkle, and memories etched into the annals of high society, colour the breadth and depth of Nigeria’s social lore.

Tony Elumelu – banking titan, philanthropist, and connoisseur of class – once again proved that whenever he hosts, the world listens. His party was not just an event, but a proclamation: that wealth, when paired with taste, becomes an art form.

In the galaxy of Nigeria’s elite, Elumelu is the sovereign star. And every December, when he calls his court to gather, they come both out of duty, and sheer, undeniable delight.