Rapper Kendrick Lamar
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While cities across Africa, such as Kigali and Johannesburg, have recently played host to a series of high-profile international music concerts, Kenya has struggled to attract similar events.
The disparity reflects infrastructural and logistical challenges hindering the country's live music industry. In December 2024, Chris Brown captivated audiences with two sold-out shows at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Dubbed the "Breezy Bowl," Brown's performance featured hits spanning his career from 2002 to the present, accompanied by 18 dancers and aerial stunts that drew comparisons to Michael Jackson.
That same month, Kigali, Rwanda, hosted the inaugural Move Afrika festival, headlined by US rapper Kendrick Lamar. The event, a collaboration between Global Citizen, pgLang, and the Rwanda Development Board, saw Lamar joined on stage by over 70 local artists. President Paul Kagame attended the concert, emphasizing music's power to empower youth and unify the African continent. The concert attracted more than 8,000 fans.
Just two months before Move Afrika, Kigali also hosted the Trace Awards, a Pan-African music awards show at the BK Arena (capacity 10,000), celebrating music stars such as Davido, Rema, Zuchu, Yemi Alade, and D’Banj. In February 2025, John Legend performed in Kigali as part of the Move Afrika tour, delivering a set that combined music with citizen-led advocacy at the sold-out BK Arena.
His performance featured hits like "Ordinary People" and "All of Me."
Kenya's struggles to attract comparable acts are due to infrastructural shortcomings, a lack of goodwill from event organizers, and insufficient government backing. Past events, including reggae concerts, have been marred by riots, sound issues, and poor planning.
Joy Wachira, Managing Director at Madfun Group, says that Chris Brown declined an offer to perform in Kenya because of concerns about the country's ability to support his performance needs. As a result, Madfun Group secured Nigerian Afrobeat star Burna Boy for a concert in Kenya in March 2025.
The upcoming Burna Boy concert presents an opportunity for Kenya's live music industry to demonstrate its ability to meet international standards. Success will depend on addressing existing shortcomings to successfully attract and host world-class events.