The Driftwood Sevens delivered more than exciting rugby in Mombasa, with a two-day entertainment programme that brought music, DJs and live performances to the heart of the tournament. Held at Mombasa Sports Club, the event gave fans the chance to move from intense sporting action to live entertainment as part of Tusker’s Tusker Na Rugby platform. Kenyan artists Bensoul and Charisma headlined the weekend, giving audiences performances filled with some of their most popular songs. The entertainment programme also featured several DJs, MCs, hypemen and a surprise appearance by Fathermore. Together, the performers helped turn the Driftwood Sevens into a wider lifestyle and entertainment experience that continued long after the rugby matches ended.
Saturday belonged to Bensoul, who took centre stage as the headline performer for the first major night of entertainment. The Kenyan singer performed some of his recognisable songs, including Nairobi, Extra Pressure, Lucy, Nakufa and Extravaganza. His set gave fans a chance to unwind after a busy day of rugby while enjoying a live performance from one of Kenya’s popular contemporary artists. The combination of his music and the lively Mombasa crowd created a strong transition from afternoon sporting action to evening entertainment. Bensoul’s performance became one of the key highlights of the first day and helped establish the energetic mood that continued throughout the weekend.
Bensoul’s song selection also gave the audience a broad taste of his music, with familiar tracks allowing fans to sing along and connect with the performance. Nairobi brought one of his recognisable songs into the set, while Extra Pressure and Lucy added further variety to the evening. Nakufa and Extravaganza also featured as part of the performance, giving the crowd more of the music they had come to hear. Rather than simply providing background entertainment after the rugby, Bensoul’s appearance became a central part of Saturday’s experience. His headline role showed how live music can complement a sporting event and give fans another reason to stay at the venue after the final whistle.
Bensoul was not alone in keeping the Saturday crowd entertained, as DJ Double Trouble, DJ Ramoz and Rattihy the DJ supported the headline performance. Their sets helped maintain the atmosphere around the venue and provided a continuous musical experience throughout the evening. MC Claudia Naisabwa and Hypeman Salem also played an important role by interacting with the audience and keeping the energy high between performances. Their presence ensured that the entertainment programme remained active rather than relying entirely on the headline artist. The combination of DJs, MCs and Bensoul gave Saturday a complete entertainment line-up that suited the festive atmosphere of the Driftwood Sevens.
Sunday brought a different musical flavour as Charisma took over the headline slot and continued the entertainment programme with his own energetic performance. The artist performed popular songs including True Love, Sina Noma and Soft Life, giving fans another opportunity to enjoy live Kenyan music at Mombasa Sports Club. Sina Noma was particularly significant because it is among the tracks most closely associated with Charisma and helped create a familiar moment for his audience. True Love and Soft Life added to the set, giving the performance a mix of songs that reflected different sides of his music. His Sunday appearance ensured that the entertainment did not lose momentum after Bensoul’s Saturday performance.
Charisma’s performance came at an important point in the weekend because Sunday was also the day when the rugby competition reached its decisive stages. Fans could follow the tournament during the day before turning their attention to live music later in the programme. This created a natural connection between the sporting and entertainment sides of the event. Charisma’s presence helped maintain the celebratory mood as fans gathered to enjoy the final evening of the Driftwood Sevens. His performance also demonstrated the organisers’ effort to give the Sunday programme its own identity rather than simply repeating Saturday’s entertainment format.
One of the biggest surprises of the Sunday programme came when Fathermore made an unexpected appearance on stage. The surprise appearance added an element of excitement because fans had not necessarily expected to see him as part of the main entertainment programme. His arrival gave the audience an additional highlight and helped make the final evening feel different from Saturday. Surprise performances can create some of the most memorable moments at live events because they give audiences something they did not anticipate. At Driftwood Sevens, Fathermore’s appearance provided exactly that kind of unexpected moment and added further energy to an already lively Sunday programme.
The Sunday entertainment line-up also featured DJ Tophaz, DJ Issa and VJ Chris, who helped keep the music and visual experience moving throughout the evening. BM Shaxxy and Hype Mylez Montego handled crowd engagement and helped maintain the atmosphere between the different entertainment segments. Their contribution was important because the event was designed as a continuous experience rather than a single headline concert. The DJs provided the musical foundation while the MCs and hype team kept fans involved and responsive. This combination helped ensure that the crowd remained entertained as the weekend moved towards its conclusion.
The entertainment programme formed part of Tusker’s wider Tusker Na Rugby platform, which was designed to connect fans with rugby while creating additional experiences around the sport. The approach meant that supporters were not limited to watching matches, as they could also enjoy live performances and social entertainment at the same venue. This helped broaden the appeal of the Driftwood Sevens to music lovers, young fans and people attending as part of a wider weekend experience. Recent coverage of the tournament has highlighted how the combination of rugby, music and entertainment helped transform Driftwood Sevens into more than a sporting competition. The entertainment component also contributed to the wider atmosphere around the tournament and helped strengthen its position as a major social event on the Kenyan rugby calendar.
The Mombasa setting added another layer to the entertainment experience, giving fans an opportunity to enjoy live performances in a coastal environment known for its strong social and cultural appeal. Driftwood Sevens has increasingly become associated with a weekend experience that combines rugby with music, socialising and Mombasa’s broader lifestyle offering. Coverage of this year’s tournament described the event as a combination of rugby and entertainment that attracted families, young people, music lovers and sports fans. The presence of well-known Kenyan performers strengthened that appeal and ensured that the entertainment programme could stand alongside the rugby as one of the weekend’s main attractions. For many fans, the opportunity to watch Bensoul and Charisma was part of the reason to remain at Mombasa Sports Club after the day’s sporting action.
The success of the entertainment programme also highlights the changing nature of sporting events in Kenya. Major tournaments are increasingly becoming platforms where brands can combine sport, music and social experiences to attract wider audiences. The Driftwood Sevens provided a clear example, with Tusker using the Tusker Na Rugby platform to bring live music into the tournament environment. Bensoul’s Saturday headline performance, Charisma’s Sunday appearance and Fathermore’s surprise performance gave fans memorable moments away from the rugby pitch. The supporting DJs and MCs then helped create continuity, ensuring the entertainment remained active throughout both evenings.
The Driftwood Sevens therefore stood out not only because of the rugby played at Mombasa Sports Club but also because of the quality and variety of its entertainment programme. Bensoul delivered a strong Saturday performance featuring Nairobi, Extra Pressure, Lucy, Nakufa and Extravaganza, while Charisma brought his own energy to Sunday with True Love, Sina Noma and Soft Life. Fathermore’s surprise appearance added an unexpected highlight, while the various DJs, MCs, hypemen and VJ helped keep the crowd engaged throughout the weekend. Through Tusker’s Tusker Na Rugby platform, the event successfully connected live music with the excitement of Kenyan rugby and created a social experience that extended beyond the matches. With performances that kept fans entertained from Saturday through Sunday, the 2026 Driftwood Sevens proved that music and sport can work together to create a memorable Mombasa event.
