The Koroga Festival has been a staple on my calendar since it started but I have been a little off on my festival game this year. I hadn’t been to a Koroga Festival all year but I absolutely could not miss out on Diamond Platnumz. Hot off the release of bangers like ‘Zigo’ and ‘Salome’, I could hardly contain myself. Also, the opening acts choices were fantastic with Kidum and Le Band set to hit the stage.

Koroga has been growing at an impressive rate so I wasn’t surprised when they announced that they would expand from a 1 day to a 2 day affair and move locations from Arboretum Gardens to Carnivore Grounds. Day 1 of the festival was more of a DJ set which is pretty dope but I am not really the target audience so I opted to stick to the Sunday Day 2 concert.

Traffic wasn’t as awful as I imagined it would be and I have to commend the Koroga team for handling the expansion well. There was plenty of parking and getting in was done in an orderly fashion. The only complaint I’d have is if the line could move a little faster. There seemed to be a little holdup at the entrance which meant standing in line for quite a bit. All in all though, it wasn’t too bad and the security was tight.

As always, the setup was great with lots of food and drinks stations. I grabbed my bottle of wine and chicken and headed to the front just in time for Le Band’s performance. Listen. These boys are talented and have what it takes to reach the heights of Sauti Sol. I absolutely enjoyed their set which was pretty rock considering their soulful music, but worked really well. They had tonnes of energy on stage and the crowd loved them. Of course the best moment was when Suzziah joined them for their hit, ‘Number 1’. That girl is another one to watch. I think given the right music and marketing, she could be as big as Tiwa Savage.

Next on stage was the master himself, Kidum. I’ve watched him perform countless times but still do not mind seeing him again. His music is filled with classics and we were basically all on our feet singing along word for word. He put on a great show which was not a surprise considering he is a veteran of the live music circuit.

Finally, the moment we’d all been waiting for arrived. Diamond Platnumz got on stage and I found myself screaming. The man is not traditionally handsome but there is something incredibly attractive about him. He put on such a fantastic show that I left convinced he is one of the best performers in Africa. He can sing live, had a great band, BGVs and dancers and choreography for every song. Also, he was on stage for over 2 hours! He literally performed every song he’s ever put out all the way from ‘Mbagala’ to ‘Salome’. The crowd loved him so much he redid ‘Salome’ and ‘Zigo’ a couple of times. He also knew how to work the crowd, flirting with the ladies and showing off his abs. It was quite something to behold.

My voice was hoarse after this concert and I have to say it was worth every penny. It’s great to witness amazing African acts who create wonderful music, also put in the work and deliver the show their fans paid for. I’ve become an even bigger Diamond Platnumz fan and I can’t wait for him to drop new music. I also can’t wait for the next Koroga!

mwendeLifestyleCarnivore Gardens,Diamond Platnumz,Kidum,Koroga Festival,Le Band
The Koroga Festival has been a staple on my calendar since it started but I have been a little off on my festival game this year. I hadn't been to a Koroga Festival all year but I absolutely could not miss out on Diamond Platnumz. Hot off the release...