Chaos Erupts at Lagos’ First Cake Picnic as Organisers Apologise

What was billed as Lagos’ first taste of the globally loved Cake Picnic turned into a chaotic scramble, with viral videos showing attendees shoving, crushing and hoarding cakes in scenes far removed from the event’s calm, communal origins.

The Cake Picnic, founded by London-based UX designer Elisa Sunga, is an annual gathering where guests bring cakes, spread out blankets, and share slices in an orderly fashion — the only rule being no cake, no entry. But at Lagos’ debut on Saturday, that rule was reportedly broken when organisers accepted payment from guests who arrived empty-handed.

Critics, including food critic Opeyemi Famakin, slammed the move as greed. Famakin distanced himself from the event, saying: “Other countries did theirs smoothly. When it got to Nigeria, you spoilt it… The average Nigerian is a bad person.”

On social media, some blamed a “scarcity mindset,” arguing that fear of shortage drove guests to grab more than they needed.

The organisers have since issued a public apology, admitting “shortcomings in planning and organisation” and promising to “do better next time.”

While earlier editions in Abuja and cities like London and New York stayed true to Sunga’s vision of an intimate, friendly cake-sharing circle, Lagos’ chaotic debut has left many wondering if the concept can survive in Nigeria’s biggest city.