The Amapiano scene is facing scrutiny after rising star Kevin Momo failed to appear at the highly anticipated Sun City Outside Event on 16 August 2025, sparking frustration among fans, organizers, and industry insiders alike.
Sun City Resort issued a statement expressing disappointment and highlighting the lack of communication from the artist and his management. “Neither Momo nor his manager have responded to any of Sun City’s requests for an update. We, along with our partners, have exhausted every avenue possible to ensure he performs. We sincerely apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience caused as a result of the unprofessional and poor conduct of the artist concerned, which is beyond our control,” the resort wrote.
In response, Kevin Momo released an official statement addressing the situation and apologizing for his absence:
“I would like to sincerely apologize to Sun City Resort, the event organizers, and most importantly, all the fans and guests for my absence and the disappointment caused by my non-attendance at the Outside Event scheduled for 16 August 2025.
I understand the immense anticipation and excitement that surrounded my scheduled performance, and I deeply regret any inconvenience, frustration, or confusion caused by this situation. This was never my intention, and I take full responsibility for not being present as expected.
There were unforeseen circumstances and miscommunications that led to my absence, and I acknowledge that I should have responded more promptly and transparently to all parties involved. I am working closely with my team to ensure that something like this does not happen again in the future.
I am truly grateful for your support and understanding, and I hope to make it up to you at a future event. Thank you once again to everyone who had made arrangements to see me perform—I am sincerely sorry for letting you down.”
The incident comes on the back of a scathing open letter from Thuly Thulz, a well-known South African events director, which called out a widespread lack of professionalism among Amapiano artists:
“After almost 12 years in the events industry, I’ve dealt with all kinds of artists, from global superstars to rising local talent. I’ve learned to expect last-minute challenges, but one thing I can’t wrap my head around is the sheer lack of professionalism from so many Amapiano acts.
This past weekend, I worked on Holiday Club, and as usual, I dealt with the same frustrating patterns. One artist tried to move their set time just two hours before they were scheduled to perform. Another artist arrived a full 30 minutes into their set, leaving me and my team scrambling.
This isn’t an isolated incident. I’d estimate that 80% of the time I book a Piano act, they’re late. It’s become so ridiculous that in our team, we literally place bets on which artist will be the latest. And it’s not just tardiness, some acts have missed entire shows. The root of the problem? Overbooking and mismanagement.
Piano artists are taking too many gigs a day, then inevitably showing up late (or exhausted) for all of them. It’s pure gluttony. On top of that, their teams, who are often made up of friends and family, aren’t equipped to handle artist logistics at this level.
It’s a recipe for disaster.
The Amapiano wave won’t last forever—when the bookings slow down, only the professionals will still be standing. I love piano, love the impact it’s had and how it’s grown African dance culture worldwide. But for fuck sakes, get it together guys!!!”
The combined events have reignited conversations about accountability in Amapiano, with fans and industry insiders urging artists and their teams to take professionalism seriously. This episode highlights the challenges of maintaining trust and credibility in a rapidly expanding musical landscape.
As the dust settles, the spotlight is on both the artist and the wider Amapiano community to uphold standards, honor commitments, and prove that the genre’s international rise can be matched with responsibility and professionalism.
