Joyce Wachira is the Managing Director of Mad Fan Group, a Nairobi-based events production, travel, and ticketing company. Her company was behind the highly anticipated Burna Boy concert, one of the biggest music events in Kenya.
In an interview with Nation, Joyce discussed the preparations leading up to the March 1st event.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’m scared. This is by far the biggest project in my 15 years in the events business. Burna Boy is coming with a team of over 61 people—do you know what that means for an investor?” she admitted.
Joyce described her packed schedule, constantly jumping from one meeting to another.
“If I’m not dealing with Burna Boy’s management, then it’s the vendors, or I’m in a boardroom with sponsors, or even locked in a security meeting with the Nairobi Sub-County Police Commander,” she exclaimed.
Originally, the show was set for December 2023, but due to logistical challenges and unfinished preparations, it was pushed to March 1, 2024.
A Seasoned Event Organizer
Joyce is no stranger to hosting high-profile events. She has successfully organized major concerts, including the Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin shows in Kenya.
She was also behind Nyashinski’s legendary Shin City concert, an event that set a new standard for Kenyan music performances.
Despite her experience, the Burna concert made her nervous due to the massive financial investment involved.
“You would think Burna Boy would charge less just because he’s performing in Africa, but that’s not the case. His rates are up to Ksh 128 million. At the end of the day, it’s just business. That’s probably why we haven’t seen him perform in Africa for four years—this will be his first time,” she revealed.
The weight of such a huge investment kept her awake at night.
Security Concerns and Gen Z’s Unruly Trends
Recent concerts in Kenya have seen a worrying trend—Gen Z fans forcefully breaking into venues without tickets.
When asked how her team planned to handle such disruptions, Joyce acknowledged past mistakes and explained her proactive approach.
“I realized one of the biggest mistakes we, as event organizers, have been making is involving security too late in the process. When I started planning for Burna Boy, I went to see the Inspector General and the Regional Police Commander early on and presented my pitch as if I was planning a national event.”
She recalled being questioned about previous security failures at concerts in December 2023, despite not being involved in those events.
“They asked me tough questions—’What happened in December?’—even though I wasn’t part of those concerts. But it was a valid concern. Why hadn’t we involved security earlier?” she admitted.
A Historic Night for Kenya
The Burna Boy concert on March 1st was a massive success, with thousands of Kenyan fans praising the electric atmosphere.
The event ran smoothly, and Joyce Wachira received widespread recognition for her role in delivering an unforgettable experience.
Thanks to her strategic planning, dedication, and bold investments, the night will be remembered as one of Kenya’s most iconic music events.
by KELVIN NJENGA
