Nairobi’s Ulinzi Sports Complex came alive on Saturday evening as Congolese Rhumba icon Koffi Olomidé took the stage to headline the Machoka At 50 Grand Concert, a spectacular event marking five decades of broadcasting by veteran journalist and radio presenter Fred Obachi Machoka.
The concert ran from noon to midnight on October 10, 2026, drawing a packed crowd of Rhumba faithful and media enthusiasts who turned out to honour one of Kenya’s most celebrated voices in broadcasting.
How did Olomidé perform at Obachi’s event?
Known across Africa as Grand Mopao, Olomidé performed crowd favourites including his beloved hit Effrakata, backed by his Quartier Latin International orchestra and accompanied by Cindy Le Coeur.
His signature soukous footwork and commanding stage presence kept the audience on their feet throughout his set, delivering on his promise of a high-energy night to remember.
Ahead of the show, Olomidé expressed warm feelings for his Kenyan fanbase, thanking the country’s current authorities and acknowledging the deep connection he shares with fans here.
The concert was promoted by Citizen TV Kenya, with tickets priced at KSh 5,000 for advance regular entry, KSh 15,000 for VIP, and KSh 25,000 for VVIP.
Are Olomidé and Machoka close friends?
Machoka, popularly nicknamed The Blackest Man in Black Africa, launched his media career in 1975 through the SANYO juu SANYO talent show and has spent the decades since becoming one of Kenya’s most influential champions of Rhumba music.
He credits himself with introducing a then-rising Koffi Olomidé to Kenyan audiences in the early days of the singer’s career, and the two have maintained a close bond ever since.
Machoka considers the Congolese superstar his younger brother, a sentiment that gave the evening an added layer of personal meaning beyond the spectacle.
The concert was not a one-man show. Legendary Congolese Rhumba singer Mbilia Bel also performed alongside Cameroonian music star Sam Fan Thomas, while Kenyan veteran acts Les Wanyika and Them Mushrooms added local flavour to a truly continental line-up.
Together, the performances painted a vivid picture of the musical world Machoka helped shape and sustain over his remarkable 50-year career in broadcasting.
Watch the performance below:
Kenyans react
Here are some of the reactions Kenyan fans shared to the performance:
K254 Nairobi News:
“Excellent, an icon indeed.”
Kevin Otieno:
“Show of the year.”
Nyakwar Odiero Mbagaya:
“Where is our very own and only Dola Kabarry”
Ongeri Ongeri:
“Kenyan musicians should learn something from this, sio lazima mkuje bila nguo.”
Pauline Shiro:
“These artistes were really smartly dressed. Looks like a well-organised show.”
Nelson Odhiambo:
“Who’s Milia Bel? We know of Mbilia Bel.”
