The highly anticipated Nairobi concert featuring Congolese Lingala maestro Le Grand Mopao Koffi Olomide is in jeopardy as Nsana Production promoters Jules Nsana and Noah Auma Muga demand compensation for a 2016 show that ended in chaos.
The celebrated 67-year-old musician faces disruption unless he settles a Sh10 million debt owed to the promoters.
In a demand letter obtained by Waza News, the promoters seek a refund of USD 50,032 (Sh7,669,905), an additional Sh1,410,000, and interest at the current rate from the date of performance to complete payment.
The demand stems from a 2016 show that went wrong when Koffi was deported from Kenya for assaulting one of his female dancers.
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The promoters claim to have met all the agreed-upon terms in a bidding contract, including deposits, airfare, lodging, transportation charges, and venue fees.
The show, however, never took place, resulting in financial losses for the promoters.
Despite their efforts since 2016, the promoters claim Koffi has been elusive and unresponsive.
According to the demand letter, the promoters have lost expected earnings from the event, emphasizing that Koffi's deportation was self-inflicted.
The promoters have given Koffi a 12-hour deadline to pay the debt, or the show at The Dome, Jamhuri Showground on Ngong Road will be canceled.
“Strictly note within 12 hours from date of this demand (December 7, 2023) clients intend to stop your show at The Dome, Jamhuri showground on Ngong road on December 9 2023. We have taken liberty to inform the administrative units within the areas which you are purposed to perfom,” the demand letter read.
It has been forwarded to the Director of Criminal Investigation, the OCS Jamhuri Police Station, and the Director of Immigration.
Koffi arrived in Nairobi in 2016 for the upcoming concert, was detained at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and deported to Kinshasa.
He was barred from returning to Kenya by the government. The police cited his deportation for creating a disturbance at the airport. Koffi has returned to the country four years after the ban was lifted.
The letter states, “Our clients thus have suffered loss of expected earnings from the event. Your being deported was self-inflicted and thus any liability is directly borne by you and not our clients. Our clients thereafter followed up with you for the refund of the direct coasts that they had used to mobilize for the event but to date you have not refunded the costs.”
