Lagos’ first-ever Cake Picnic, an event celebrated worldwide for its charm and orderliness, ended in chaos over the weekend as videos of attendees grabbing, crushing, and hoarding cakes went viral. What was meant to be a sweet, community-driven celebration quickly turned into what many online have described as a “royal rumble,” leaving the organisers apologising for poor planning.
The Cake Picnic is the brainchild of London-based UX designer Elisa Sunga. It began as a small gathering of friends in a park, where each person brought a cake, introduced themselves, and shared slices in turn. Over the years, it has grown into a global sensation in cities like London and New York, drawing thousands of participants while keeping one simple rule at its core: no cake, no entry. In its most successful editions, guests arrive with their cakes, take photographs, and collect slices using provided utensils, returning for seconds and thirds only after everyone has had a chance to taste.
In Lagos, the tables were beautifully laid out at the start, filled with a colourful variety of cakes. But shortly after the cameras clicked, order dissolved. TikTok clips, particularly one shared by user @naya_berry, captured scenes of people pushing, scooping cake with their bare hands, and taking more than their share. Many critics pointed to a key deviation from the original format — the decision to accept payment from people who arrived without cakes, which many saw as undermining the very essence of the event. “If it’s meant to be a cake picnic, then keep it that way. Why take money from people who brought nothing?” wrote Instagram user Miz_Shona.
Well-known Nigerian food critic Opeyemi Famakin, whose viral post about the London edition first sparked interest in hosting the event locally, revealed that brands offered nearly N20 million to support the Lagos version. He declined to organise it, saying money was not his motivation. “You handle the stress, I can promote it, but I’ll never run it myself,” he explained in a video. Following the chaotic outcome, he distanced himself completely, remarking, “Other countries did theirs smoothly. When it got to Nigeria, you spoilt it. Is it Tinubu’s fault? The average Nigerian is a bad person.”
Some Nigerians online linked the unruly behaviour to a scarcity mindset. Instagram user grilledttt.bymaamah commented that the average Nigerian struggles to believe there is enough for everyone, leading people to instinctively hoard more than they need when faced with abundance.
In response to the backlash, the Lagos organisers issued an apology on Instagram, thanking attendees for their support but admitting to significant shortcomings. They acknowledged that things did not go as planned and took full responsibility for the poor organisation, promising to learn from the experience and improve future editions.
For Sunga, who recently hosted her seventh Cake Picnic in London’s Greenwich Park with 463 cakes and over 30,000 global sign-ups, the Nigerian debut was far removed from her original vision. She had once imagined the picnic as an intimate gathering of about 15 friends in a circle, each introducing themselves and their cake, never expecting it to grow into a worldwide phenomenon.
Interestingly, an earlier, smaller Abuja edition of the Cake Picnic in Nigeria unfolded in a far calmer manner, staying true to Sunga’s original concept. Lagos, however, ended with empty tables, crumbs scattered on the ground, and a flurry of criticism online. For many, the city’s first taste of the Cake Picnic left a bitter aftertaste, though the organisers remain determined to try again and deliver a sweeter outcome next time.