Legends in Concert festival a damp squib
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday November 30, 2021 06:00
The festival featured legendary South African Kwaito musicians Mdu Masilela, Alaska as well as new the kid on the block Dj Owami against Botswana’s own T.H.A.B.O and Exodus. The event marked the return of the popular piece since 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19 forced music festivals blackout. Expectations were high among patrons, as the show promised to take them through the memory lanes on good kwaito night.
However, the show failed to live up to the high expectations and was just lukewarm and a damp squib. Uncharacteristically, the event started a bit late as the organisers failed to keep up to the event schedule.
Performances were also very cold. It was Mdu’s second coming to the Legends in Concert festival. But unlike in the past where he mesmerised fans and left the patrons asking for more, this time around he was just lukewarm.
After performing a few songs, he left the stage much to the disappointment of the patrons who were hoping to get more from their favorite star. Mdu said he had to leave the stage to allow other artists time to perform. He was meant to perform after Alaska, Arthur and DJ Owami, however he was forced to perform before them, as there was a mix-up in the line-up.
To make matters worse, South African self-proclaimed King of Kwaito, Arthur Mafokate, who was expected to share the stage with his daughter Dj Owami did not show up. Arthur was meant to grace the event as just a guest performer.
According to the festival organiser and music promoter, Lekopanye ‘Lecco’ Kenosi of Leccotainment Promotions Arthur did not make it due to logistical issues at the border. But the show had to go on without Arthur, with Dj Owami doing it on her own. The award winning Dj Owami showed exactly why she was recently recognised at the first annual Amapiano awards in her country with a good set. Like Mdu, Alaska also failed to raise the tempo and change the atmosphere of the event. All in all, it was not a memorable night for the return of one of the country’s most popular music festival.