If there’s one word to describe 2024 and all it had to offer, I think CHAOTIC stands out pretty well. For me, this year was about waking up every day, choosing to out-grind a failing economy, gearing up for work, and being stuck in front of screens for hours—trying to figure out a way out of all the chaos. I had sworn that by December 2024, I’d be on a beach in Ghana, jamming to Amapiano like no man’s business. Little did I know the surprises T-Pain had in store for me.

But between my ever-busy schedule and the obvious brokenness that robbed me of my vacation plans, a group of creatives I knew came to the rescue! The instruction was simple—Clock out. Gear up. Let’s play and vibe!

Founded by Noah, Creative Playground is built on the idea of unwinding—a space for creatives to step back, have fun, and recharge after what has been a very long year. For the first edition, it took over Fun Plex Garden, off CMD Road in Magodo, Lagos, and what followed was an experience worth sharing.

The team wasted no time diving into the activities. Attendees were divided into groups based on their interests. For the football game, we drew lots to form three teams for a five-a-side match. Each round was set for 10 minutes, but guess what? After just 8 minutes under the hot sun, some guys were already calling for subs!

I played in the third group, which faced off against the leading team. Spoiler alert—we won (although I was just a defender and barely touched the ball)!

The organizers added a fun twist to the final round—female goalies. This change relaxed the tempo of the game and made it even more fun and friendly. Meanwhile, another group who hadn’t participated in football gathered under a canopy to play Jenga and network.

After hours of games and laughs, the organizers dropped the bombshell—it was time for PAINTBALL!

I can’t describe the excitement I felt. I’d never done it before, and this was my chance! We were split into five teams with 8 players each, while the football players rested and the Jenga players went first.

Watching teams strategize before each round was thrilling. The rules were simple:

• No removing combat masks.

• No shooting players at close range—ask for surrender instead.

• Follow the referee’s whistle.

• First team to capture the opponent’s flag wins!

When it was my turn, I couldn’t wait to shoot paint at some people! The first two rounds ended in a tie, but thanks to my swift moves protecting our flag (and forcing a surrender just before the whistle), we went into a tiebreaker with target practice—and guess what? My team won again!

For a creatives’ hangout, they really saved the best for last. After the games, we were served plates of spicy jollof rice and plantain (I just had to mention the food—priorities, right?). Music played as people networked and made plans for future collaborations.

Personally, I met some really cool people doing amazing stuff, exchanged contacts, and threw around plenty of ‘let’s link up soon’ promises.

By the end of the day, my feet were covered in dust and paint, my voice nearly gone from cheering, and my body ached from all the activity. But Creative Playground wasn’t just about games. It was a reminder that creativity thrives in community—and that ‘all work and no play’ is so last year.

If you missed this one, don’t make the same mistake twice. Follow @creativeplayground for updates—you’ll thank me later, I promise! Until then, let’s keep creating and playing.