Sameer Naik
Despite a disastrous start as a promoter, “sushi king” Kenny Kunene is plan-ning another big music festival – and another birthday extravaganza for when he turns 41 in October.
This time, however, Kunene plans to keep it African and will host a series of concerts throughout Africa next year, featuring musicians from around the continent.
Two months ago Kunene splashed out over R20 million to bring out international superstars Timbaland, Ciara, Lil’ Kim, Phat Joe and DJ Scratch for a three-city ZarFest.
But this turned out to be a flop, with two of the three shows cancelled because of poor ticket sales.
The millionaire Joburg businessman says planning for the series of “ZarFest Africa United” concerts is well under way and that he will not be making the same mistakes this time.
“The main reason for… a series of African concerts with only African artists is because I have a vision of uniting Africa,” Kunene told the Saturday Star yesterday .
“I’m hoping to use entertainment as a way of uniting Africans. There have been petty issues between Africans for far too long and it has got to stop.
Why is it that whenever we think of a Nigerian we think of him as a drug dealer. We need to change that mindset and work together as Africans, white and black.”
Kunene said he also hoped that ZarFest Africa United would help discover new talent would one day have a similar stature to that of American musicians. “Hopefully we will be able to discover new talent during ZarFest. I believe that our artists are as good as those in America, and maybe one day we can host our very own Grammy Awards.
“And when I say African I don’t mean black. African means all races. So we are hoping to get artists of all colours and races who are African to perform at ZarFest.”
Asked whether he would continue to bring international artists to the country, Kunene said he was already in talks with a “very big artist” who is expected to perform in South Africa soon.
To spread the news of his latest venture, Kunene hosted a lavish bash at his club ZAR in Sandton last night, and a number of African businessmen attended as well as DJs from Cameroon and Nigeria.
American R&B star Brandy Norwood and Hollywood actresses Vivica A Fox and Regina King – in town for the SA Sports Awards – were also expected to attend.
Kunene, who also recently started his own record label, New Money, said he was hoping to sign several African musicians aside from the four South African musicians he had already signed up. “I have got a man and woman who are rappers from SA that I have already signed as well as an upcoming R&B star and a house DJ.”
Meanwhile Kunene said he had already begun planning his birthday bash, and said it would be bigger and better than the last. Last year Kunene splashed out close to R1 million on his 40th birthday party, which was held at his club.
He became known as the “sushi king” after his party, where he celebrated by eating sushi off half-naked women. “I will not rule out a sushi party this year, after all it is who I am and everybody knows me as the sushi king,” said Kunene. “I plan on having six parties, three in Joburg and the other three in other provinces. I will also be heading off to Singapore to get ideas for my party.”
He added that he was also holding a competition for the public to see who could come up with the best birthday ideas.
“Wow, there are so many ideas going through my head. Whoever comes up with the best idea will be given a nice prize.”
He also admitted to getting paid a “champagne fee” to pour bubbly or eat sushi off half-naked women, or simply make an appearance in other African countries. His sushi ways had landed him clubbing invitations from Zambia, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, he said.
“It is an appearance fee. In South Africa I get invited to make an appearance at corporate gigs, and they pay me just for being there. I do not charge a fixed rate.”
Last month Kunene was photographed partying up a storm in Namibia where, with a bottle of bubbly in hand, he showed partygoers in Windhoek a thing or two about how to have a good time – with a display of half-naked bodies.