Key points
- Tony Elumelu and wife Awele cancel their famous TOE All-White Party. They say the tragic fire makes a loud celebration feel wrong.
- The yearly 23 December event draws top guests to their Lagos home. Fans had already begun to ask about this year’s plans.
- The couple will spend Christmas honouring victims and their families instead. They hope to host friends again on 23 December 2026.
Billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu (Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu) has cancelled his much-loved TOE All-White Party for 2025. The private Christmas event, hosted every 23 December at his Lagos home with wife Awele, was already on the minds of many regular guests.
In a note shared on his Instagram Stories, Elumelu said he had received many messages from friends asking if the party would still hold this year.
He thanked them for the love and excitement that has built around the annual gathering. The UBA chairman also reminded fans that the party has always been about joy, music and shared memories.
However, he explained that the recent fire that claimed lives has changed how his family will mark the festive season.
The incident is linked to the Afriland Towers blaze in Lagos, where his earlier grief message and pledge of support were widely shared in September. That note was captured in detail in this earlier report on his Afriland fire victims support note.
According to Elumelu, the loss of “precious lives” makes it hard to host a loud celebration so soon after the tragedy. He said that, together with Awele, he had decided that the most respectful step was to cancel this year’s edition of the TOE All-White Party.
A Christmas of reflection, not fanfare
The TOE All-White Party has grown into one of the most talked-about private Christmas events among Nigeria’s moneyed and creative circles. Past editions have drawn business leaders, politicians and entertainers who arrive in stylish white outfits for a night of music, food and networking.
This year, though, the familiar bright lights and packed dance floor will be replaced with a quieter mood. Elumelu said the 2025 festive period will be dedicated to remembering, honouring and holding space for those who died in the fire. He stressed that the victims and their families remain in the hearts of his family and company.
The shift in tone mirrors the wider mood within organisations linked to the blaze. In September, United Capital and UBA also released public notes naming staff who died and promising help for their families, as covered in this story on the UBA staff fire loss report. For many people who followed the news, this Christmas now carries a more sober feel.
Friends and fans of the Elumelus have reacted with sympathy and praise under reposts of the statement. Many commenters said the couple’s choice shows empathy and good judgement at a painful time. Others used the moment to send more prayers to families still grieving loved ones lost in the fire.
Looking ahead to 2026
Even as they pause the tradition, the family has already set eyes on a brighter future. Elumelu said they look forward to opening their home again on 23 December 2026 “by God’s grace”.
He promised that when the party returns, it will do so with the same focus on love, laughter and togetherness that guests have come to expect.
He ended his message by thanking friends and regular guests for their understanding and kindness over the decision. He also wished them and their loved ones a peaceful and beautiful Christmas wherever they choose to celebrate.
For admirers of the TOE All-White Party, the gap in this year’s festive calendar may feel strange. Yet the cancellation underlines a simple truth at the heart of the season.
Sometimes the most powerful way to celebrate life is to pause, remember those who died and quietly stand with the people left behind
