Brazzaville counts down to 11 October show
Félix-Eboué Stadium is already humming with sound checks even though the big night is still weeks away. On 11 October, homegrown rap star Nix Ozay plans to fill the 10 000-seat arena with a set he describes as “the most daring of my career.”
Posters splashed across taxis, kiosks and Instagram feeds tease the event, and ticket vendors report an early rush from students and workers looking for floor access. The excitement points to the growing weight of urban music in Congo’s capital, traditionally dominated by rumba and gospel.
Months of preparation behind the stage
Since June, the artist’s team has rented rehearsal space in Mpila, fine-tuning live versions of viral tracks such as “Posa Makambo” and “Bala Bala Soldier” with a seven-piece band and two dancers. Lighting engineers are importing modular rigs usually reserved for continental festivals.
Nicolas Obili, production manager, says the goal is to blend stadium power with neighbourhood authenticity. “We want people in the last row to feel as close as those at the crash barrier,” he insists, showing 3D renderings of a central catwalk winding into the crowd.
From neighbourhood cyphers to gold record
Nix Ozay, born Elion Kye Elky, started rapping in Bacongo street cyphers before joining collectives Big Money and Zone X. His single “Dieu te Voit” later earned a locally certified gold record, a first for a Congolese rap act (Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 22 Aug 2023).
Critic Pierre-Alain Louembe says the gold record changed minds. “Labels realised rap could sell like soukous,” he notes. Deals soon placed the 27-year-old on sportswear and telecom billboards, plus a public campaign against illicit alcohol.
Tracklist promises crowd favourites
Rehearsal leaks suggest the concert will open with “La Mixtape,” segue into a medley of early mixtape cuts, then slow down for the reflective “Pétage,” whose lyrics condemn vandalism and the “bébés noirs” gangs troubling some suburbs (Radio Congo, 18 Sep 2023).
The encore is expected to feature a surprise guest, with veteran songwriter Zao spotted at recent sound checks. A backstage source hints at a cross-generational duet that could bridge folklore and trap, a statement of unity in a scene often divided by age.
A message beyond the beat
Unlike many club-oriented shows, Ozay frames the night as a civic conversation. “Likes don’t define you,” he told teenage followers during a livestream rehearsal, urging them to learn trades and believe in offline friendships. The artist says part of ticket revenue will fund apprenticeships in mechanics.
Social anthropologist Clarisse Mvoula views the gesture as timely. “Unemployment nurtures petty crime; musicians who speak the youth’s language can redirect that energy,” she argues. Authorities supporting the event see it as complementing municipal awareness drives rather than replacing formal policy programmes.
Voices of mentors and peers
Legendary crooner Zao endorsed the project after inviting Ozay to his Talangaï home. “This kid respects the roots yet pushes the sound,” he said on community radio. Fellow rapper Paterne Maestro pledged a cameo, praising the younger artist’s insistence on live instruments.
Such endorsements matter. Sponsorship consultant Dorcas Ngowaba explains that local brands weigh artistic approval chains before investing. “If Zao says yes, families feel safe sending teenagers,” she notes. Rumour has it two beverage firms and a mobile operator will activate booths inside the stadium.
Ticket info and security measures
Standard tickets cost 5 000 F CFA, with VIP passes at 15 000 F CFA including backstage meet-and-greet. Sales points include Plateaux’s cultural centre, M’Pita mall and online payment app Baziks. Organisers advise early purchase; only 1 000 seats carry the discounted student price.
The prefecture has approved a security plan combining private stewards, canine patrols and police units. Bag checks will enforce a no-glass policy, while two first-aid tents staffed by Croix-Rouge volunteers stand by. Night-bus schedules are being extended so suburban fans can return safely.
Getting to Félix-Eboué Stadium
The stadium lies near Marché Total, a busy hub. From downtown, bus 14 drops fans at avenue Matsoua, a five-minute walk. Ride-hailing apps confirm surge-free fares for pre-bookings before 17:00. Drivers warn travellers to avoid the heavily congested Avenue de la Paix after sunset.
Hotels in Plateau Royal already show higher occupancy, a mini-boost welcomed by tourism operators after a slow August. The consensus is clear: 11 October will not just be another concert but a snapshot of a capital city where hip-hop increasingly sets the rhythm of daily life.
For fans unable to attend, national broadcaster Télé Congo will air a condensed recording two days later, giving rural viewers a taste of the show’s energy and perhaps inspiring future talent across departments from Cuvette to Kouilou.
