Love, Damini Tour: The good, the bad and the ugly

Now, if you were at the show (or on social media in the days that followed), you know that the kwaito artist’s performance time was cut short and that he didn’t get to go up on stage with the band he wanted.

In the documentary, you hear him ask the stage manager for one more minute just after the music stops abruptly. He and DJ Shoza walk off stage dejected, and you then see someone backstage tell him they ran out of time.

The crowd wasn’t having it. For a moment you could hear their disapproval.

We spoke to the artist after the concert. He expressed disappointment in how things were handled.

“It’s almost like we were invisible and everybody was just concentrating on one person. He’s a superstar but still, we are also superstars in our own country. Maybe not to that magnitude, but we still deserve a lot of respect,” he expressed, adding that he and other artists have done a lot for the industry but it was as if they didn’t matter.

“Hulle het ons nie gesien nie. Nie eers ‘n bietjie nie.”

We reached out to the organisers, but they did not respond to our questions. However, it was a central feeling among other artists who performed on the night.

As someone who attended this show, I can attest to the fact that the attention given to all areas by organisers was not equal. Like when I think about the difference between the VVIP and general access areas.

I know paying more money gets you nicer things, but the area given to the cheapest ticket holders was just atrocious and so unnecessarily far on the opposite end of the opulence scale. From the worst toilet experience I’ve ever had, to the seating in the stands, to the dust.

Then there were the bouncers. Goodness. I’ve never met a bunch of people who can go on a power trip like bouncers. Like, yes you are there to maintain order, but you’re also there to protect attendees? Pushing and shoving first and asking questions later is not the right strategy.

Lastly, I don’t even have words to describe the mess that was the after party. There were multiple stampedes, bouncers elbowing patrons, people being tazed, club guests being told Burna was going to show up when he didn’t, a perpetually full bar, wigs coming off. It was chaos.

But it wasn’t all bad though. Far from it in fact. There are some things that just made the night magical.

I know it probably goes without saying, but bringing Burna Boy to Namibia is one of the best choices the organisers could ever have made. His stage presence, charisma, voice and energy are nearly unmatched and it was an absolute pleasure seeing him go through old and new songs.

Not only that, but the line-up as a whole was something unforgettable. Our own artists are definitely world-class talents and I was so proud to see each of them shine. Ethnix seriously has a chokehold on the game right now with good tunes, sex appeal and charm. Lioness is schooling us all, KP Illest, Skrypt, King Tee Dee, PDK, DJ Castro and DJ Dreas really stood out for me. And Yeezir and Ms Gideon absolutely killed it giving us a performance of one of the hottest songs out right now ‘Pretty Vibes’.

The next good thing the organisers did was change the stadium layout at the last minute. For some reason, it was initially set up so that the VVIPs occupied the space right in front of the stage. Then the golden circle right behind them, while general access ticket holders would then be surrounding these two camps.

Now, I’ve been to many big events and concerts and one thing I know is that artists love to perform directly to the masses.

The people right at the front should be the average person that bought a ticket to see their fave artist. VIPs can maybe have an elevated experience with a lower ratio of people per square metre. VVIPs can be off to the side or even the back.

So when I arrived at Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the golden circle was moved to the front at the last minute and the VIPs to the sides. It just made the most sense.

Overall a good show and great effort for a team that had little corporate backing and lots of online opponents. Truly a night to remember.

* Anne Hambuda is a poet, writer and social commentator from Windhoek, Namibia. Follow her online at @anne_hambuda or email her at annehambuda@gmail.com

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