The Canadian R&B duo DVSN’s long-awaited Johannesburg debut ended on a flat note after their headlining set at the sold-out Once Upon A Time In Joburg festival was cut short, echoing the frustrations fans felt when Summer Walker’s performance time was slashed during her own South African appearance. The show, which marked DVSN’s first time performing in the country, had been teased for weeks, with fans expecting a full journey through favourites from projects like Sept. 5th and Morning After. Instead, just as the energy crested and supporters braced for more early classics, the plug was effectively pulled and the night wrapped up earlier than expected, reportedly due to strict festival time limits and technical constraints.
For many local R&B lovers, the experience felt all too familiar. When Summer Walker performed in South Africa, her set was also cut down, with fans left disappointed after getting only a shortened slice of what they believed should have been a fuller headlining performance. That incident sparked debate about planning, time management and respect for both artists and ticket buyers, conversations that resurfaced immediately after DVSN’s set ended abruptly. Online, some fans pointed to extended crowd interactions and extra onstage moments as factors that may have eaten into performance time, while others argued that event logistics and curfews were the real culprits behind both artists’ curtailed shows.
In response to the Joburg backlash, DVSN took to social media to express their own disappointment, explaining that they had more songs lined up and were also frustrated they couldn’t deliver the complete experience promised to fans. To soften the blow, they quickly organized an afterparty, added a Monday meet-and-greet, and assured South African supporters that they plan to return for a proper, uncut show. The move was widely seen as a good-faith effort to rebuild trust, especially given lingering frustration from the community after both Summer Walker and now DVSN left stages feeling unfinished.
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As conversations continue, South African audiences are calling for tighter coordination between promoters, venues and artists to avoid a repeat of these scenarios. Fans are making it clear that while they appreciate high-energy moments and intimate crowd interactions, they ultimately show up for full, uncompromised performances, particularly when it comes to rare appearances from international R&B acts.
