Mixed reactions have trailed American R&B singer Ne-Yo’s Nairobi show, One Night Only, which attracted 3,500 revellers.
Depending on whom you ask, the October 20 performance was exemplary or not satisfactory. Perhaps that explains why Ne-Yo’s visit barely caused a frenzy on social media, unlike previous visits by A-list musicians performing in Kenya.
His lyrics “she makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, with just one touch…” dominated the dance floors in the 2000s and his performance in Nairobi was expected to draw thousands of millennials, now-grown romantics, who had once used Ne-Yo songs as anthems for falling in love, or at least for convincing someone that they were.
What emerged online was a few concert videos, some by people who enjoyed and others complainants.
For Brian Aseli, a broadcast journalist, the Ne-Yo show was worth attending, especially for fans keen to see an R&B icon perform live.
“To be honest, I enjoyed the show simply because I was there to see such an icon perform. I have heard complaints about why he did not perform with a band, but my thinking is that it could have been too costly for the organisers,” he says.
“I had a VIP access ticket, which meant I was super close to the stage. There were people who did not even see him and had to watch the performance on the screens, yet they were inside the venue. You needed a good ticket to have a good time,” he says.
American RnB singer and songwriter Ne-Yo.
Early-bird tickets went for Sh7,500, but as the event approached, Gold tickets sold for Sh15,000, while a couple’s Gold package cost Sh20,000. Those seeking the Platinum VIP experience had to part with Sh40,000.
For some revellers, even getting a glimpse of the Grammy-winning R&B star behind hits such as “So Sick”, “Closer”, “Miss Independent” and “Because of You” proved difficult.
Caroline Wainaina recalls a friend who had just flown back into the country. An old-school R&B die-hard, she was excited about finally seeing Ne-Yo perform live. She says her friend paid Sh15,000 for a Gold ticket, hoping for an unforgettable evening, but had to leave before Ne-Yo took to the stage.
“She had eagerly anticipated the event as a die-hard Ne-Yo fan and lover of old-school R&B. But despite all that excitement, she did not even get to see him. She could not get a seat or a clear view of the stage, even at around 4.30 pm,” Ms Wainaina tells Nation Lifestyle.
Disappointed, her friend went home and requested Ms Wainaina, who had a Platinum ticket, to send her videos of the performance.
“I really felt sorry for her,” she says.
But even after paying Sh40,000 for her ticket, Ms Wainaina says the experience fell short of expectations. The problem, she says, was neither Ne-Yo’s performance nor the timing of the show. “The only credit I can give the organisers is that they kept time. They said Ne-Yo would be on stage by 6.30pm, and he was, and by 8.05pm he was done. But I felt like I had attended just a normal concert. I have attended events outside the country, and for a $300 ticket like Ne-Yo’s, I was expecting so much more,” she argues.
Although she secured a seat, she says, it was so far from the stage that watching the singer up close was difficult.
“My issue with this event was I bought a ticket for Sh40,000 and I still had to sometimes stand, move my chair closer to the stage, just to get a glimpse of Ne-Yo. For the events I have been to outside Kenya, what you pay for is exactly what you get. If it’s VIP, you get an unobstructed view, and sometimes, depending on the ticket tier, you get access to the musician, you interact with them. I got a seat, yes, at least I got to see Ne-Yo, but how far can you zoom your phone camera to see him?” she says.
She says many Sh40,000-ticket holders repeatedly left their tables in search of a better view of Ne-Yo, causing congestion as revellers jostled for position. There were other logistical challenges, including where to leave personal belongings when stepping away from the table.
American singer Ne-Yo performs in Kigali, Rwanda in 2019.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“Every time I left the table, I had to carry my bag and ask the waiter to look after my drinks. I had bought a bottle of whisky for Sh15,000, so I was not going to leave it unattended. That meant I had to tip my waiter well. Imagine spending Sh60,000 at an event and still not getting the satisfaction of an experience,” she says.
Ms Wainaina adds that some of her friends with Gold tickets, despite spending Sh15,000, did not get seats. “Yes, Ne-Yo’s performance was splendid, but the experience was whack,” she says, adding that she has seen the same organisers deliver what she considers a far better experience at last year’s One Night Only with Kenny G.
“To be honest, with the Kenny G one, they outdid themselves. No one had to fight for a good view, even those with the lowest-tier ticket. Everybody got a seat, had a view and left home with a goodie bag. Every ticket holder also got a bottle of water; the top tier enjoyed a buffet as the performance went on without necessarily having to leave their seats. The stage production was also quite impressive. The Boyz II Men concert ended up in court, they redeemed themselves with Kenny G, and now look at what they have done with Ne-Yo.”
George Magacha, another reveller, also raises concern with the Ne-Yo event organised by Radio Africa Events and Stanbic Bank.
“I was at the Boyz II Men concert, and there were issues with the stage microphones and even the screens. Kenny G was far better. At Ne-Yo, I had a Gold ticket, and I could hardly find a seat,” he says.
“It is starting to feel like they [organisers] know exactly what they are doing and are playing Kenyans. You keep seeing the same inconsistencies, and that makes you wonder. Why can't they just produce a good show and experience consistently?” he asks.
Not everyone, however, left the concert feeling short-changed. For Murugi Gichovi, a Platinum ticket holder, the evening delivered precisely what she had hoped for.
“The event was amazing. He gave a great show, and the organisers kept time. I was home by 9pm. A very grown-up concert. I really enjoyed myself,” she says.
Ms Gichovi arrived shortly before Mutoriah [a Kenyan singer known for his songs Beta”, and “Tosheka”, featuring Bensoul] took to the stage and left immediately after Ne-Yo’s performance, allowing her to judge the evening on what she experienced rather than the complaints that followed.
She believes reports of a power blackout during Ne-Yo’s performance were based on a misunderstanding.
“I had people saying there was a blackout when Ne-Yo was performing. Those were transitions, not blackouts. Just before Ne-Yo’s set, they put out the lights to build anticipation, and people started calling for him and chanting ‘Wantam’. The next time they switched off the lights, he was doing a wardrobe change, and then they sang him ‘Happy Birthday’,” she says.
For Ms Gichovi, the evening ran smoothly, with the organisers keeping to time and Ne-Yo delivering the performance she had paid to see.
Speaking to Nation Lifestyle, the organisers acknowledged a few shortcomings but maintained that they were confident in the experience they delivered.
“Stanbic Bank and the organising team are pleased to have delivered an event that brought people together through music and celebrated Kenya’s vibrant creative sector. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, reflecting the excitement and enjoyment experienced by concertgoers,” a Stanbic spokesperson said.
“We recognise that some attendees have expressed disappointment with aspects of the experience. Their concerns deserve careful consideration. We would not assess the event’s success solely by attendance or the performances, without considering the attendee experience,” the response read.
“The organising and partner teams do not dismiss attendee criticism. Consumer-generated feedback across digital channels is actively being tracked and audited. As a sponsor, our priority is to understand the concerns raised and to engage the respective teams. Like any major event, the concert has attracted a range of reactions. However, the overall response has been overwhelmingly positive. While we recognise that some negative comments have circulated online, social media reactions should be considered in their proper context and alongside the broader feedback received. We take feedback seriously and remain committed to supporting events that deliver meaningful experiences for audiences.”
