From the feedback online, it seems the much anticipated WizKid concert organized by Barbeque Live didn’t live up to the expectations of the attendees. The dissatisfaction wasn’t from the performances but the organisation of the concert. From the onset, most Kenyans had reservations about the event. Some complained that the Ksh. 4,000 for advance tickets was too high. Others were not fully sold on the security of KICC as a venue. The team at BBQ Live assured fans that all would be well and they would be taken care of.
Kenyan’s reaction on social media however, tells a different story. The concert was very disorganized from the get go and fans had to wait outside in the rain for almost two hours before being allowed in. This caused a lot of commotion at the gates which got some attendees worried that it might lead to a stampede.
Finally inside after almost two hours outside. Meh. (Also, need to know who is doing security coz wow guys getting pushed outside)
— Mwende Ngao ?? (@mwendesusu) July 22, 2017
On the line getting into Wizkid. Long line and kinda disorganized. And we're getting rained on. Meh
— Mwende Ngao ?? (@mwendesusu) July 22, 2017
Gates of death? @Gkiberen @ChiSinei we almost died @G4SPlc ? https://t.co/UCFVDed8Cm
— Achieng (@Wendyflav) July 22, 2017
Once inside, the concert took too long to start. One fan likened the endless speeches to a crusade or political rally.
Fam Issa crusade … more speeches than a political rally. Where's our daddy yo ??? #BBQLIVE
— S.w (@wagiomuts) July 22, 2017
Then the drinks at the bar ran out. At midnight!
This event ??? the vodka is over ?????? #BBQLIVE pic.twitter.com/017uDxjGAV
— S.w (@wagiomuts) July 22, 2017
Lol. Bar is almost kaput. It’s midnight. Lol
— Mwende Ngao ?? (@mwendesusu) July 22, 2017
The VVIP tickets were Ksh. 25,000 but no food or drinks were provided for the bearers of these tickets.
bbqlive treated artists vibaya and conned vvip ticket holders after paying 25k, they were not given hata Dasani !! Comments disabled on IG
— Palm Tree (@6footBarefoot) July 25, 2017
So y'all paid 25k for VVIP tickets and got defrauded ?#BBQLIVE
— Cheryl Tunt (@nyambu__) July 25, 2017
Local artists were treated very badly as expressed by Fena Gitu who was one of the performing acts. The general sentiment was that the organizers deemed local artists to be lesser in comparison to WizKid.
H_art The Band also chimed in, and they had a lot to say on how they were treated. They also called out the organizers for ignoring their complaints, mistreating fans, being cut short halfway through their performance and being denied VIP passes to enjoy the rest of the show. Here is their account in three parts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW6-uczhWvB/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW7BF-9BD92/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW7ynKzh_Xv/
Both Fena Gitu and H_art The Band’s fans were livid.
Even @Fena_menal didn't take kindly to that BBQLive shit! Event managers man! pic.twitter.com/T75lpSw4JS
— Mr Jemedari (@MrJemedari) July 24, 2017
Afropop & BBQLive treating our artists like trash!War unto ya'll fucked up event organizers.The culture doesn't accommodate this bullshit
— Nick Chacha (@ThatGuyChaxy) July 24, 2017
On matters of security, well, let’s just say, it wasn’t at tight as they’d promised fans it would be.
My phone was stolen at BBQ live and brought back to me by a Good Samaritan who witnessed it happening. Jesus is Lord.
— Lyra Aoko (@Lyraoko) July 24, 2017
Generally, the whole concert was a mess.
Bbq live.. what a fucking mess! #BbqLiveWizkid #BBQLIVE #BbqLiveKe pathetic!
— shiv simani (@JustGymItShiv) July 22, 2017