It appears that trust is at an all-time low among Joburgers, as sentiment around Ye’s (formerly known as Kanye West) alleged performance in the city later this year remains lukewarm.
Last week, the Monyake Group and event curators Jay Carson & Co. issued a statement confirming Ye’s performance. However, fans (and critics) aren’t buying it just yet, with some even taking to social media to claim the event is a scam.
The city’s trust issues stem from the recent abrupt cancellation and ongoing refund woes of the popular Hey Neighbour Festival. In a recent conversation with 947 Breakfast Show host Anele Mdoda, Hey Neighbour CEO Glen Netshipise addressed the financial fallout, stating that the company intended to honour all refunds, though the timeline remains unclear.
The company behind the festival, Glen 21 Entertainment, has spent nearly two decades bringing global talent to South Africa. So the cancellation was a major blow to both the brand and concertgoers’ confidence.
Now, in a bid to avoid another disappointment, Joburgers have put on their detective caps. Many are digging into the legitimacy of the company and individuals claiming to bring Ye to South Africa, and judging by the online chatter, they’re not convinced.
@okay_swisher Kanye West concert allegedly a scam
♬ original sound - okayswisher
Because if a powerhouse like Glen 21 can face financial trouble securing international acts, how is an unknown company able to lock down one of the world’s best-selling artists of our time? One thing that would put everyone's fears to rest would be a comment from Ye himself (Wake Up, Mr West), but we don't have that kind of pull (yet).
In an effort to get to the bottom of one of the year’s biggest live music mysteries, Time Out Johannesburg reached out to Jay Carson for an interview to discuss the logistics of Ye Live in South Africa, but, so far, he has not responded.
So, is Johannesburg in for the greatest (no) show of all time? Will Ye Live in South Africa become a self-fulfilling prophecy? Or will we all be eating humble pie with a regret-on-the-rocks chaser if Ye actually touches down at Ellis Park in December?
At this point, only time will tell. All we know is that deep down, we really want to add Ye to our “Yaass list” instead of our “wish list.”
Speaking of wish lists, these are the 7 music acts we want to see live in Johannesburg in 2026.
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