Congolese music star Fally Ipupa failed to perform at the highly anticipated Africa Forward Concert despite being billed as the headline act, leaving many fans at the Kasarani Indoor Arena disappointed.
The concert, held as part of the Africa Forward Summit, was one of the event’s major cultural highlights, bringing together music lovers from across the continent to celebrate African unity, talent and cultural diversity.
Fally Ipupa was initially scheduled to perform at Africa Forward “Le Concert” in Nairobi ??, but he will unfortunately no longer be performing.
— FallyipupaDiaryCA (@FallydiaryCA) May 12, 2026
After delivering two major shows at the Stade de France last week, he has been advised to rest and recover.
He will be back in… pic.twitter.com/QcM0TqVCOu
Several African music stars took to the stage during the electrifying night, including Kenyan singer Bien Baraza, Nigerian star Yemi Alade and Tanzanian songstress Nandy, all of whom delivered energetic performances that kept the crowd entertained.
However, anticipation remained high for Fally Ipupa, who had been advertised as the main headliner of the evening.
Fans waited eagerly for the Congolese superstar to appear on stage, but as the night progressed, it became clear he would not be performing.
Master of ceremonies Larry Asego eventually addressed the crowd and officially announced the singer’s absence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, listen. Fally is a man who has carried the sound of Kinshasa and the whole of Congo to every stage in the world. He would have loved to be here...”
His co-host, Claudia Naisabwa, also urged fans to celebrate the singer despite his absence, reminding the audience of his recent international achievement.
“Two weeks ago, he did something phenomenal, and I want us to give him a shout-out. He performed at a sold-out concert in Paris, France.”
The announcement triggered mixed reactions from the audience, with some fans expressing disappointment while others applauded in support of the singer.
Moments later, organisers played a recorded video message from Fally Ipupa in which he apologised directly to his Nairobi fans and explained why he could not attend the event.
“Nairobi, I am very sick. Sorry about that. I will see you next time. Enjoy the night, see you soon and I love you, Nairobi.”
Despite the unexpected absence of the headliner, the concert continued with performances from other African artistes who kept the atmosphere lively inside the packed Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The event remained a colourful celebration of African music and culture, even as many attendees admitted they had especially looked forward to seeing Fally Ipupa perform live in Nairobi.
The singer’s apology video was later met with understanding from a section of fans online, with many wishing him a quick recovery and hoping he would return to Kenya for another performance.
Photos: David Gichuru, Standard