- As 2024 ended, Nairobi welcomed international acts including Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, Jamaican Shenseea, and Afrobeat’s finest Divine Ikubor, alias Rema.
- The highly anticipated events were rocked with chaos, forcing the cancellation of several performances.
- This is an account of how Kenya’s headline concerts in 2024 turned into a 3-month-long circus that left ticket holders disappointed.
EABL Apologizes and Refunds Fans Following Hectic Walker Town Concert
Walker Town is an annual event organized by East African Breweries Limited (EABL) for lovers of Johnnie Walker, a popular brand of Scotch whisky in Kenya.
EABL’s Marketing Manager for Scotch & Reserve Portfolio, Josephine Katambo, went to great lengths to secure top musical artists for the 2024 edition.
Leading Kenyan act Nyashinski, Nigerian Rema, and the legendary American eight-time Grammy Award winner Lauryn Hill were slotted to perform at the event.
Enthusiastic fans flocked to the Laureate Gardens at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on September 28th and 29th for the stage performances.
As the highly anticipated performances drew closer, the skies over the city suddenly opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour that ruined the sound equipment and destroyed the entire setup crucial for the event.
Nyashinski who was reportedly expected to perform before Ms. Hill had his performance cancelled because of the bad weather. Ms. Hill, however, braved the weather and came onto the stage at 3 AM.
Her delayed performance was disastrous because of the poor sound quality at the venue.
Attendees noted that the American music icon struggled throughout her performance as she tried to entertain her devout fans.
EABL was forced to refund day 2 ticket holders following widespread displeasure and complaints from fans.
On September 28th, the day before the event, a stampede led to a forced entry at the venue by youths, followed by reports of pickpocketing.
Viral videos on TikTok and X platforms showed hundreds of rowdy youth breaching the venue’s perimeter. The clowns managed to gain unauthorized entry, to the detriment of legitimate ticket holders who had spent over KES 4,000 to attend.
Rema, the day’s headline act, performed after the chaos had subsided. His electrifying performance was tainted by complaints of pickpocketing and overall disorder at the venue.
Uncle Waffles Slams Show Organizers Following Disorderly Event in Nairobi
Uncle Waffles is a popular South African DJ, producer, and performer who gained widespread recognition for her unique style and energetic performances.
Born Lungelihle Zwane, she became widely known after a video of her DJing at a club went viral, showcasing her impressive skills behind the decks.
The female sensation jetted into Kenya for a November 30 show at the ASK Done along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
The event was marred by familiar problems of overcrowding, delays, and frustration, which escalated dramatically when tear gas was used on the crowd.
Waffles was forced to cut her performance short as the chemical irritant saturated the area. Ravellers also reported poor sound quality and undue harassment from event organizers.
Uncle Waffles would then issue a scathing statement criticizing the show organizers for doing a poor job during her appearance. The popular Amapiano DJ profusely apologized to her Kenyan fanbase, promising a better second concert.
Raha Fest Threatens to Dump Kenya Following Chaotic Uhuru Gardens Concert
Nairobi’s Raha Fest is a music and cultural festival known for its vibrant mix of music, art, culinary experiences, and fashion.
Its December 2024 edition featured Jamaican songstress Shenseea and Tanzania’s Ali Saleh Kiba alias Alikiba.
Similar to several other concerts in Nairobi, the Uhuru Gardens event was rocked with chaos that saw enthusiastic music fans getting teargassed by police.
The scene resembled the “Occupy” protests at Kenya’s parliament buildings, with crowds storming the venue without tickets. Thick clouds of tear gas forced Alikiba and Shenseea to halt their performances.
Shenseea, known for her song Hit and Run took to her social platforms to vent her frustrations writing “Now, Kenya I’m a lil mad at y’all ngl!”
Alikiba on his part thanked his fans for showing up promising that he had picked some lessons and will be ready for such eventualities next time.
Out of deep embarrassment and what it termed as unacceptable Kenyan culture, Raha Fest announced that it is exiting the country.
In an explosive statement posted on its Instagram handle, Raha Fest blasted Kenyans for displaying chronic entitlement when it comes to events.
“Kenyans believe they should not buy tickets to events and are entitled and deliberately willing to “occupy” events. This trend is disappointing, regretful and retrogressive,” read the January 1 statement in part.
While apologizing to all attendees who had an underwhelming experience, Raha Fest hinted that the event could be its last in Kenya.
Willy Paul and Diamond Platnumz Steal the Headlines at Wild Furaha City Festival in Nairobi
The biggest showdown in Kenya’s ‘Detty December’ 2024 was the Furaha City Festival that happened on the 7th at the magnificent Nairobi Polo Club.
Furaha City was regarded as a landmark event in Kenya’s entertainment scene attracting heavy hitters including Tanzanian crooner Diamond Platnumz.
The leading artist who also goes by the moniker Chibu Dangote was designated as the headline act, with other top artists on the lineup.
Kenyan distinguished rapper Khaligraph Jones, lyrical wizard Mejja, Tanzania’s Zuchu, and controversial Kenyan singer Willy Paul alias Pozee were set to grace the event.
What appeared to be an ecstatic setup and good vibes quickly spiraled into a tense atmosphere as the stage performances hit high gear.
An intense scuffle occurred around the main dias where uniformed police officers and heavily built bouncers were seen trying to diffuse the situation.
At the center of the confrontation was Kenya’s outspoken artist Willy Paul who was fighting off a dozen military-built men as he attempted to access the stage.
Clips from the scene show Diamond Platnumz marooned in his car as he consulted his managers on the unfolding events.
Willy Paul arrived at the venue just minutes after 1 am accompanied by his band of dancers and supporters. His arrival coincided with that of his Platnumz who pulled up in a convoy, ready to perform.
To prevent a potential mix-up, the stage managers informed Pozee that Diamond was scheduled to perform at that time and that he would take the stage afterward.
The Saldido Record Label founder vehemently refused, quoting a performance rota provided by the management. According to the line-up, Pozee was to perform before Diamond Platnumz.
Tempers soared before Willy Paul forcefully accessed the stage. On stage, Willy Paul started his performance with a furious rant, chastizing music promoters for disrespecting Kenyan talents.
Meanwhile, Wasafi Classic Baby Chief Executive Officer Diamond Platnumz left the venue on the advice of his lead manager Sallam SK (El Jeffe Mendez).
Mr. SK tried unsuccessfully to get his client to the stage, including setting up an emergency secondary entrance on the other end of the stage.
Pozee and his entourage also blocked that entry forcing Diamond to leave the venue without performing.
In a video released following the contentious event, Diamond refused to refund the over 19 million shillings he had been paid.
He cited the explicit contract he signed with the organizers which also specified the exact time he was supposed to perform.
“I arrive at the venue on the agreed time and wait to be called to the stage. Keep in mind that I always glance at my watch, and if my scheduled time elapses, I leave the premises, and I don’t do a refund,” said the leading Tanzanian musician.
What’s Plaguing Kenya’s Showbiz?
Kenya’s music concerts in 2024, including events like Raha Fest, Furaha City Festival, and Walker Town Concert, have been plagued by chaos, stemming from both the actions of event organizers and disorderly attendees.
Horrendous Event Organization
Event organizers in Kenya have struggled with effectively managing big concerts, particularly when big names are involved. At Raha Fest, the almost comical confusion around the scheduling and miscommunication led to delays and disorganization, impacting the overall experience for both artists and attendees.
The event left ticket holders disillusioned, as both artists and organizers were hit with embarrassment.
Similarly, the Furaha City Festival saw full-scale mismanagement, with last-minute changes and failure to properly communicate performance schedules. This led to un-called-for tension, particularly between artists like Pozee and Diamond Platnumz.
The was also tension between the artists and organizers, as Diamond Platnumz refused to refund his substantial payment after he failed to make an appearance on stage. This situation highlighted the lack of professionalism, which inspired the event’s chaotic turnout.
At Raha Fest and Uncle Waffles concerts, it appeared that organizers were underprepared for the crowd sizes, and logistical issues were not addressed in advance. The poor planning and glaring failure in some cases to secure the venues led to the pointless teargassing by police.
Ungovernable Concert Attendees
Unruly behavior has marred several Kenyan concerts, including events like the Walker Town Concert, where pushing, shoving, and forced entry became problematic.
Event crashing is common in Kenya, particularly during political campaigns, where rival factions often clash at rallies.
Originally carried out by hired thugs, this behavior gained traction among Kenyan youth after the dramatic storming of parliament in June 2024 during the Anti-Finance Bill protests.
Large numbers of attendees often seemed to ignore event rules, resulting in security concerns. For example, at the Walker Town Concert, hundreds of rowdy youth forcefully gained entry without paying gate fees, before unleashing a major pickpocketing operation.
Last-minute changes that create conflicts between performers, combined with unruly crowds and chaotic scenes, harm the country’s standing in global showbiz. Both organizers and attendees must take responsibility for these issues, and concert management needs a significant overhaul to prevent future disruptions.
