Not all surprises are a good idea, and in the case of Aug. 17’s South African celebration Mandela Sports and Culture Day, it might have been a wise idea to warn attendees that there was a concert at the end of the day.
But that concert, by Brandy, was apparently a surprise — and according to multiple reports, almost no one stuck around long enough to watch her perform.
South African musician Kabomo tweeted what he saw on Saturday:
@SizweDhlomo it was late. People didn’t know there was a concert after the games. No one knew Brandy was around. Maybe a 40 people audience
— Kabomo (@Kabomo) August 17, 2013
And, he added:
@SizweDhlomo it was late. People didn’t know there was a concert after the games. No one knew Brandy was around. Maybe a 40 people audience
— Kabomo (@Kabomo) August 17, 2013
Apparently her show came at the end of a long day of performers and even a soccer game at FNB Stadium, which is in Soweto. The venue can hold 90,000, but it seems that after the sports portion of the evening was done, no one expected there would be another show — and nearly everyone went home.
Brandy did actually mention she would be performing at the show on her website … though that post is dated Tuesday, three days after the event ended.
Kabomo’s tweets were echoed elsewhere; one tweet read, “Well Brandy is going to perform for herself and Mbaks only. Stadium now empty.” (Mbaks referred to South Africa’s minister of sports.)
In addition, says the Guardian, Brandy’s show wasn’t even televised, like the other events had been — the country’s national channel SABC ended their broadcast before she started singing.
The Guardian noted that Brandy is popular in South Africa, and will be returning for a concert on Sept. 24.
By Randee Dawn
