For week’s leading up to the event, the NTV sponsored African Dance Party seemed to be all Nairobi’s party lovers had to talk about.
And with good reason. With Africa’s top artiste, Wizkid, and South Africa’s most sought after hit maker Heavy K on the billing, expectations were high.
Come D-Day and all of Nairobi’s young and restless made their way to the Carnivore Gardens for gig dubbed; “the ultimate Mashujaa weekend plan” last Sunday. They came in their thousands.
They came in multi-coloured African print dresses and hiphop-esque tees and snapbacks. They came in flocks of campus crews and as singles, all ready to wiggle and mingle.
From the parking lot, it was evident the organisers, GoodTimes Africa, had poured a substantial deal of thought into the planning for the event.
With hundreds of drivers making their way into the venue, the ease with which traffic flowed into the expansive Carnivore Grounds parking lot made Nairobi’s infamous traffic issues sound like an overhyped rumour.
Once inside, revellers were greeted by an elaborate complete with laser lighting and interactive installations with every pulsating moment captured live on multiple gigantic screens.
But what really set the African Dance Party apart from your everyday concert was the elaborate detail that went into each of the three different holding spaces.
The general admission area was carefully designed to accommodate the multitude of people who opted to go for this pocket friendly ticket option while still ensuring a complete concert experience with access to the front of the stage and easily accessible amenities.
The popular golden circle was a neat little enclosure with a leaner crowd, a well serviced bar and dedicated toilets, providing some extra comfort for those willing to pay a little extra.
Local artiste Octopizzo performing with goodies for his fans during the Africa Dance party featuring main artiste Wizkid from Nigeria on 19th Oct. 2014 at the carnivore grounds. PHOTO | CHARLES KAMAU
VIP was the real “big boys club” though as the who-is-who in Nairobi’s social and entertainment circles outdid themselves in a bottle popping contest that drowned the glitzy fashion on display in this section.
And with all the local and international celebrities and personalities in attendance it was evident why so many were willing to pay for such an experience.
When singer Sage took to over the mic from MC Eric Omondi at around 9pm, it was clear the crowd, freshly charged from a thrilling DJ Crème de la Crème set, was in for a memorable night.
Kamau Muthoni The Drummer Queen, Sage and Eric Omondi during the Africa Dance Party featuring main artiste Wizkid from Nigeria on October 19, 2014 at the Carnivore grounds. PHOTO | CHARLES KAMAU
More so when she was joined by hip hop heavyweight Octopizzo for a joint performance of their hit collabo “So Alive”.
Then followed the multi-talented Muthoni the Drummer Queen who dazzled and wowed before paving way for the phenomenal Fena who wrapped up what could only be described as an impeccable Kenyan artiste lineup.
Curiously, the Kenyan section of the night’s performances noticeably lacked the traditional big name superstars that are synonymous with such high profile events.
According to the organisers, this was deliberate with the intention being to lend the platform to fresh local talents.
The Kenyan based multi-national Electrafrique collective followed with their eclectic mix of African sounds delivered through a colourful collaboration between DJs and instrumentalists.
Their blend of traditional African music and attire juxtaposed against modern DJ equipment and complex electronic simulations forced the dancing shoes on the surging crowds.
But the night belonged to Nigeria’s Wizkid who waltzed on to the stage to a thunderous applause before proceeding to throw down an overwhelming performance that left both Wizkid and his legion of fans hoarse.
Despite the energy, forty five minutes later many had wished he had performed with a live band instead of playback, which many deem as lazy.
