The much anticipated hip hop concert at Romanz Park garden in Rugende on Saturday was a total flop. It was an embarrassing moment for organisers, and singers who performed for empty seats.

The turn up was very poor, the show started very late and some of the expected performers did not show up.

The show was supposed to feature some known names in the hip hop industry in Rwanda including P-fla, Pacson, Green P, Bull Dog, Diplomat Demon Crazy, Young Tone, and Bac T, among others.

The concert which was titled "Hip Hop Night” had been planned to begin at 6pm but with an empty venue, it was delayed and could only start at 8pm.

Apart from the poor attendance, popular artistes who were expected to perform didn’t show up.

Rapper Green P was among the most awaited rappers to perform, but he did not show up for unknown reasons.

P Fla, one of the country’s most adored rappers, whose career has been dogged by controversy appeared at the venue but refused to perform at the last minute, citing illness as the reason.

The show was expected to attract a sizeable crowd, given the history of hip hop in Rwanda but that wasn’t the case.

Malik Ndayishimiye, known as Bulldog, one of the most popular rappers in Rwanda blamed the flop on lack of good preparation and prior advertising.

"If you want a concert to succeed, you plan it well and create some good publicity for it, otherwise you are likely to incur losses. There were very many mistakes on the side of organizers,” a frustrated Bulldog said.

Rapper Diplomat largely blamed the failure of the concert on the venue being far for many would-be concert goers.

Robert Kajuga, the organizer of the concert said that it is hard to find reasons to explain why the concert miserably failed

"I can’t tell what exactly went wrong. It is the first time I have organized something and it does not succeed," he said

Meanwhile DJ Africano who was expected to spice up the show did not appear, prompting DJZouzou to take over on the decks. Demon Crazy accompanied by Young Tone, from the new music group Stone Church, were the first on stage and did their best to entertain the few fans, singing their songs such as Ndikukwiryaho.

Diplomat was the second to perform, mostly singing his songs such as Umucakaraw Ibihe, Ikaramu and others in freestyle.

RapperBac-T followed and performed some of his Kiswahili rap songs including Mwalimu, engaging the few who turned up.

Bull Dog came on last, performing Cinema, Amajyamberen’ibihe,Imashini and Ndakuzi, among others.

After his performance, many fans and rappers including Pacson left the scene grumbling over what they called a disappointing evening.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw