Singer Bensoul has opened up on what transpired during Kodong Klan’s withdrawal from the highly anticipated Asake and Gabzy concert at Nyayo Stadium.
The group, which includes Bensoul, Charisma, Okello Max, Mordecai Dex (Hart the Band), Coster Ojwang, Ywaya Tajiri, and Israel Onyach (Watendawili), had been scheduled to perform alongside Gabzy and Asake.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, December 25, 2025, Bensoul explained that he and Charisma were performing at another show before the concert, while the other members of Kodong Klan were attending their allocated soundcheck at Nyayo.
The group had been scheduled to perform their soundcheck on Friday night, with Gabzy doing his earlier and Asake scheduled for Saturday morning.
“The main artist should go last; that’s how the setup was planned and worked on,” Bensoul said. “We were doing our soundcheck when someone came and said, ‘Change of plans, we want Asake to do the soundcheck first.’ My guys had already arrived and were on stage, so it was disrespectful.”
Disrespect during rehearsals
Tensions escalated when Kodong Klan members were told that even they would have to make way for Asake’s soundcheck. “Sisi tulikuwa tuna fanya soundcheck, so mtu akakuja akasema change of plans, tunataka Asake aingie kwanza apige soundcheck. Wasee wangu walikuwa wamefika, wamepanda stage.”Bensoul explained.
He added that the announcement was made over the mic for everyone to hear, rather than quietly, which the group felt was highly disrespectful:
“Ata ile shukeni chini, yamaji, mnaambiwa kwa mic… It was pure disrespect,” he said.
Bensoul also noted that the interference disrupted the calibration of their instruments and stage lighting, making a full and proper rehearsal impossible.
Despite arriving on time and following protocol, the repeated disregard for their time and effort forced Kodong Klan to make the difficult decision to withdraw.
“After repeated interference and disrespect, my managers and I agreed to cancel. Performing under such conditions would signal that this type of treatment is acceptable, and it is not. Respect is non-negotiable,” Bensoul added.
Kodong Klan, known for hits like Nyaduse and Disko, stressed that the withdrawal was necessary to maintain professional standards and safeguard the integrity of their performance.
