Entertainment

Gqom In Concert festival slated for 21 April, but no Babes Wodumo

Durban is set to host the first Gqom In Concert festival this April at the Pavilion Shopping Centre.

Saturday, 21 April 2018 will kick off Durban’s first-ever Gqom In Concert festival, a festival specially designed for those who love and practice this genre of music.

Behind the idea of a Gqom festival are the well-known South African artists, The Distruction Boyz duo and DJ Tira.

According to Dj Tira, due to growing interest in Gqom from fresh artists, prior to the festival, there will be a two-day conference to “educate” upcoming artists about the music genre.

Notable musicians performing at the festival include: Distruction Boyz, Dj Tira, Dj Sox, Busiswa, Tipcee, Kwesta, Black Motion, Dladla Mshunqisi, Okmalumkoolkat and many others.

The popularity and growing interest in Gqom and the event could also be seen on social media with many user lauding DJ Tira for the initiative.

However, many questioned why Babes Wodumo would, according to the event post, not be joining the lineup. Many view Babes Wodumo, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, as the “Queen of Gqom.”

Below are comments by some users on DJ Tira’s Instagram expressing their displeasure at the apparent exclusion of Babes Wodumo from the lineup:

“Gqom concert without the Queen of Gqom? @babes_wodumo should be headlining this concert.

@djtira but we can’t have Gqom Concert without @babes_wodumolike really guys da main reason behind Gqom is Babes Guys u can do beda please don’t expose ur differences in da Media please, we so wanna come please hear us Makoya we love & support u guys please swallow ur pride & include our Queen 👸 please, of course not imposing but it’s a humble plea…

“Im sorry but truth to be told, you cant have gqom in concert without Babes Wodumo, given her contribution to the gqom movement. She is the first women to jump on gqom sounds where everyone was looking down on it. WE DERSERVE ANSWERS.”

Event organisers, including DJ Tira have thus far given no answers to the above questions, nor did they mention anything about Babes Wodumo’s participation at the festival.


Gqom in Concert will take place on Saturday, 21 April at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Durban, starting 3 pm until 12 am.

Tickets range between R200 and R450, and are available in a limited amount on Computicket.