17,000 people in the audience and protesting outside. What happened – summarized here.
On January 20, Xavier Naidoo performed for the first of his two concerts at the Uber Arena in the capital. According to social media, there was an exuberant mood among the up to 17,000 visitors. There were also demonstrators in front of the venue. Impressions, videos and setlist can be found here.
Between cheering and protest
The Mannheim native’s comeback tour started in December and will last until the end of January 2026 – the reactions varied greatly when the tour was announced. Many people were happy about the singer’s return to the stage after six years – during which he became increasingly radicalized and particularly attracted attention with anti-Semitic statements that even went as far as denying the Holocaust. In 2022, Naidoo published an apology video on his YouTube channel in which he stated that he had been lost in conspiracy stories for years. He also stated, among other things: “I said and did things that I regret today.” And now the now 54-year-old fills concert halls every evening because he still has fans or has them again.
Critics, on the other hand, reported demonstrations to the Berlin police for both appearances under the motto “No stage for anti-Semitism (against Xavier Naidoo’s right-wing conspiracy myths)”. The event lasted from 6:00 p.m. to midnight and is scheduled for its second concert on the 21st with the same duration.
Impressions from the performance can be found here:
The setlist of the first evening
Here is the complete list of songs played live:
- By my soul
- Its streets
- Are you interested in life
- Everything can get better
- 20,000 miles
- What we cannot do alone
- Courage to change
- Mercenary Song (Drugs and Gold)
- take farewell
- Please don’t stop dreaming
- Hear, hear
- She doesn’t see me
- The rock
- And if a song (Söhne Mannheim’s song)
- Take me with you
- This way
- Where do you want to go?
- If you want it
- Lead me to the light
- I need you
- Lines of gold
- Before you go
- I thank everyone
- All men have to fight
- I don’t know anything (as beautiful as you)
- Hold on
Radicalization and outstanding proceedings
Xavier Naidoo was already noticed during his musical beginnings with racist statements, which ultimately led to a break with his band the Sohne Mannheims. During this break of several years, the artist became further radicalized. Naidoo represented theses of the QAnon ideology, sympathized with Reich citizens, expressed conspiracy ideology and appeared with lateral thinkers.
Editorial recommendations
As of July 2025, two proceedings for sedition in connection with anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial are still ongoing at the Mannheim Regional Court. Naidoo’s lawyers had rejected the allegations as false, as the “WDR” reported.
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