‘There simply wasn’t enough’

‘There simply wasn’t enough’ By Michelle Nyabeze and Nhlelo Msimango The singer made an entrance that immediately grabbed the room’s attention, walking in through the venue’s back entrance while singing Mamma. After keeping the crowd waiting until after 1 am, the entrance was a clever touch and quickly changed the venue’s ambience. The venue, Mi Casa, was largely filled with women. The venue was not completely packed, and the wait for the headlining act had clearly tested some attendees’ patience. The night’s visual theme was red, with Hennessy branding throughout Mi Casa. But once Nxumalo stepped onto the stage, the attention shifted entirely to the performance. Backed by two energetic male dancers, Nxumalo immediately demonstrated why she has built a strong following. Her vocals were impressive, and her choreography and stage presence gave the short performance plenty of energy. Her dancers matched her energy throughout the set, adding movement to the performance. Nxumalo herself appeared comfortable on stage, moving confidently and delivering her songs with the presence expected of a headline performer. The problem was that there wasn’t enough of it. Nxumalo performed for approximately 20 to 30 minutes before leaving the venue. Khanyisa Tembani jokingly summed up the experience as a “two-minute show”, reflecting the frustration among some audience members over the length of the performance.