Screengrab of Iyanii performing at the World Cup Qualifiers | Iyanii's InstagramKenyan vocalist and singer-songwriter Ian Oure, popularly known as Iyanii, has opened up about his halftime performance at the World Cup Qualifiers.
Speaking to Alex Mwakideu in an interview on the Alex Mwakideu Live channel on YouTube, Iyanii recalls his performance, sharing his experience and expressing his appreciation for the support his fans give him.
The artist, who performed at the Kenya vs. Seychelles halftime break at the Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, on September 9, 2025, describes the moment as one of his highlight moments in his life.
"Kenyans show love and appreciation a lot," Iyanii said regarding his fans' feedback on his artistry.
The artist revealed that he initially wanted to perform at the CHAN competition.
His motivation to perform at CHAN came from the Harambe Stars players, who had previously said the artist's song, " Furaha", is their favorite song.
"I tried to talk to three or four people, but unfortunately, we couldn't perform at the CHAN because the lineup was already selected," Iyanni said.
"I was so down to perform for free, because for Harambee Stars to say my song is their biggest, is a big thing. So I was like, 'How am I going to repay this?' So any show they were going to have, just as a way to show I'm a true Kenyan and to show my support, I'll come for free, and I'll do it [perform]. That's how I got the gig," the Donjo Maber hitmaker explained how he landed the World Cup Qualifiers halftime performance.
The artist shared his experience performing at a stadium compared to other events.
"It's hectic, I won't lie to you. Because I wanted to make sure that each and every corner of the stadium would feel my energy," the artist explained.
"I did like four laps around the stadium, because I wanted to make sure everyone feels my energy, despite how far they are," Iyanii added.
The artist described the experience as one of the best feelings. "Almost forty-fifty thousand people there; that's the largest crowd I've ever performed for," the Donjo Maber hitmaker said.
Fans were given a reason to smile when the artist announced that he would be releasing an album as well as several features and singles.
"Roughly, before the year ends, I'm planning to release, plus the album, a total of 20 songs!" Iyanii revealed.
