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The Nairobian

Koffi Olomide's Kisumu show ends in disappointment

Entertainment

By Ben Ahenda | Dec 17, 2024

**Rhumba maestro from DRC Koffi** **Olomide.**[Collins Kweyu,Standard]

They came in hoping that they could dance to the tunes and sweet melodies of Congolese Rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide but home disappointed.

In a well-publicized event on social media and several mainstream media outlets, the failure by Olomide to perform at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday night has left tongues wagging and Rhumba revelers confused.

Olomide failed to come with his Quarter Latin Band Orchestra proving he was not coming for live shows.

Most of Kisumu Rhumba fans who thronged the venue had expected the legend rhumba artiste to display some of his latest live performances as the first festive season event in the lakeside city.

Early last month in a video that has since gone viral, Olomide was seen telling his Kenyan fans to get ready for a new dance style called Jettah.

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“Get ready for Jettah mama Jettah, Jettah mammou Zie x2,” he said as he sang one of the stanzas.

“Music is in my brain and my name is Koffi Olomide Double King, the owner of Quartier Latin International. Kisumu City of Kenya, get ready for me and on December 14 at Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu where I’ll perform for you one of the brightest and biggest shows of my life. Get ready Kisumu! You know me, you know my love for you. You know how deeply I have missed you for a long time. Be ready for me. This time, it’ll be Chachi Jettah,” Olomide had appealed to his Kisumu rhumba fans.

Jetah is the new dancing style in town just like the Kwasa Kwasa of the early nineties.

“We expected him to give us live performance since that’s what we expected from him as a foreign artiste of great repute. This is total disappointment after spending heavily,” said William Alloice Odhiambo, an ardent rhumba.

However, promoter Dr Nico, an assistant coordinator of the show said Olomide was not expected to perform but was only meant to appear and grace the occasion.

“Olomide was only expected to show up at the function not to perform. He was only to grace it. And that’s why he failed to come over with his Quarter Latin Orchestra members,” Dr Nico told The Standard on telephone.

He said Zaiko Langa Langa Band under the leadership of Nyoka Longa were the ones charged to entertain the flock.

“Zaiko Langa Langa Orchestra was the principal entertainment outfit but not Olomide. Olomide came as a guest of the show but not an entertainer. That’s why he didn’t come with his band members,” said the promoter.

At the function, it was Zaiko Langa Langa Orchestra who entertained the revelers for over four hours.

Other artistes who performed were Tanzanian legend artiste Diamond according to Dr Nico who works under Congolese promoter Jans Nsana.

Otherwise for over a decade, Nsana has been credited for most of visiting Congolese artistes into the country and the latest ones being Nyoka Longa of Zaiko Langa Langa and songstress Mbilia Bel.

However, Dr Nico said there was no cause for alarm on the matter.