Kelly Khumalo, a renowned singer celebrated for her powerful vocals, recently stirred up controversy during her performance at the Lemo Festival in Bloemfontein, Free State. Despite her undeniable talent and stage presence, Khumalo faced technical difficulties that affected her microphone and sound quality, leading to visible frustration on her part. Throughout her set, she repeatedly interrupted her band, demanding that the technical crew rectify the issues.
Despite the challenges, the crowd loved Khumalo's performance and eagerly sang along with her. A source from the festival remarked on her undeniable talent, stating that she commanded the audience's attention despite the setback.
"She is talented that is one thing you can't take from her. The crowd came into a standstill and sang along," the source said.
It was later revealed that Khumalo had not attended the rehearsal, much to the frustration of the festival organisers. It later came to light that Khumalo had not attended the rehearsal, much to the disappointment of the festival organizers. This lack of preparation was evident in her performance, which fell short of her usual high standards. The incident has sparked controversy, with many fans expressing their disappointment and frustration at the singer's failure to adequately prepare.
Some have even called for Khumalo to be banned from future festivals unless she takes rehearsals more seriously. An insider from the festival shared that the popular Asine hitmaker had a busy schedule that prevented her from attending the rehearsal. "I believe she was fully booked; I know the previous weekend she had engagements, which may have hindered her ability to rehearse," the source explained. Additionally, the source revealed that the organizers were displeased with Khumalo's on-stage drama, as it appeared to place blame on the festival rather than addressing the underlying technical issues.
According to the source the organisers were not happy with her onstage drama because to people who had no clue what was happening, it seemed like the organiser's fault.
"Her complaints about the microphone left a negative impression on the organizers. Other prominent artists like Zonke and others who performed at the event did not encounter any problems," the source added.
When approached for comment, Kelly Khumalo declined to address the matter. The incident has highlighted the importance of adequate preparation and professionalism in the music industry, particularly when performing at major festivals and events. Fans and organizers alike hope that Khumalo will take this experience as a lesson and strive for a more seamless and polished performance
