American RnB star Ne-Yo for Mashujaa Day Concert in Nairobi
American RnB star Ne-Yo is set to return to Nairobi 11 years after his last visit to Kenya, bringing his catalogue of global hits to the capital for a Mashujaa Day concert.
The three-time Grammy winner will headline the One Night Only: Brunch Edition at Ulinzi Sports Complex on October 20, marking his first major headline performance in Nairobi since his 2015 appearance on Coke Studio Africa.
Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith first came to Kenya for the third season of the pan-African music show.
During that period he worked with a line-up of African artistes including Kenyan rapper Wangechi, Tanzania’s Ali Kiba, Uganda’s Maurice Kirya, Nigeria’s Ice Prince and Mozambique’s Dama Do Bling.
The collaborations brought together RnB and African sounds, giving fans a glimpse of Ne-Yo’s ability to work across different musical styles.
His 2015 Nairobi visit also resulted in another memorable East African collaboration.
The “So Sick” hitmaker teamed up with Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz to record “Marry You”, a song that was later released in 2017 alongside a music video shot in Los Angeles and Johannesburg.
More than a decade later, Ne-Yo is returning to a very different Nairobi music scene, this time as the main attraction.
The October 20 show will take place during the Mashujaa Day holiday, with the daytime event running from 3pm to 11pm
UK showband Sol & The Gang will also perform at the concert, adding a live-band element to the event.
For many Kenyan fans, Ne-Yo’s return is an opportunity to revisit the songs that defined the R&B sound of the 2000s.
His catalogue includes hits such as “So Sick”, “Closer”, “Miss Independent”, “Because of You”, “Sexy Love” and “Mad”.
Beyond his career as a performer, Ne-Yo has built a reputation as one of music’s accomplished songwriters.
He has writing credits on major songs including Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” and has also written for artistes such as Rihanna, Usher, Celine Dion and Jennifer Hudson.
His Nairobi appearance is part of an African tour that will see him perform in South Africa before heading to Kenya.
The show will also offer a different experience from the usual Nairobi concert, with organisers billing it as a brunch style event rather than a conventional evening concert.
Tickets are available in several categories, including Gold at Sh15,000, Gold Couple at Sh20,000 and Platinum at Sh40,000, while premium tables are also available.
For fans who first encountered Ne-Yo through Coke Studio in 2015, his return offers a chance to see the Grammy-winning star on a Nairobi stage once again this time with the spotlight firmly on him.