What was meant to be a historic night at Nyayo Stadium turned into a painful stand for dignity. Singer Bensoul has finally opened up about the moments that led Kodong Klan to withdraw from the highly anticipated Asake and Gabzy concert, revealing a story marked by disrespect, frustration, and a hard line drawn in the sand.
Kodong Klan — a powerful collective featuring Bensoul, Charisma, Okello Max, Mordecai Dex (Hart the Band), Coster Ojwang, Ywaya Tajiri, and Israel Onyach (Watendawili) — had been booked to share the stage with global stars. Instead, they found themselves fighting to be heard even before the music began.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, December 25, 2025, Bensoul recalled how plans abruptly changed during rehearsals. While some members were already on stage for their scheduled soundcheck at Nyayo, word came down — suddenly and publicly — that everything had shifted.
“We were already on stage, instruments set, ready to work,” Bensoul said. “Then someone announced on the mic, ‘Change of plans. Asake will do soundcheck first.’ That alone was disrespectful.”
The announcement wasn’t whispered backstage. It was broadcast over the microphone — a move that humiliated the group in front of crews and peers alike.
“Ati shukeni chini, mnaambiwa kwa mic… that was pure disrespect,” he said.
Beyond pride, the interruption had real consequences. Their instruments and lighting had already been calibrated. Pulling them off stage mid-process meant their rehearsal was compromised, their performance integrity shaken.
Despite arriving on time and following every protocol, Kodong Klan felt their effort and professionalism were repeatedly dismissed.
That was the breaking point. “If we performed under those conditions, we’d be saying this kind of treatment is okay,” Bensoul explained. “It’s not. Respect is non-negotiable.”
After consulting with management, the group made the painful but firm decision to withdraw — not out of ego, but principle.
Known for songs like Nyaduse and Disko, Kodong Klan emphasized that walking away was about protecting standards, self-worth, and the future of Kenyan artists demanding respect on major stages.
Sometimes, the loudest statement isn’t made with a microphone — but by choosing to walk away.
By TV47