From Obangaina to Afrobeat: Guvnor’s Friday Night Live was pure magic

If you expected mostly middle-aged fans to show up for this month’s Friday Night Live at Guvnor, you were in for a surprise.

The club was packed wall-to-wall with millennials and Gen Zs, grooving shoulder-to-shoulder with the “legends.”

The night kicked off with a DJ set that seamlessly blended old-school Ugandan anthems with modern Afrobeat bangers, setting the vibe ablaze by 10 PM. But when the band struck their first chords just after 11, the energy exploded.

Afrigo Band delivered a powerhouse one-hour set, diving into timeless classics like Abaana b’Afrigo, Jim Wange, and Batuuse, along with crowd-pleasing covers that had everyone—from the young to the seasoned—singing in harmony. The energy was electric, and the band’s signature smooth instrumentation was on full display.

Then came the night’s turning point: Rachael Magoola took the stage and owned it. Her performance of Emaali was pure magic, and when Obangaina dropped, the dancefloor turned into a joyous frenzy.

Just when the crowd thought it couldn’t get any better, Sophie Nantongo stepped up with her signature warmth and grace. Her soulful hits like Nkwagala Nnyo and Love Super added a sweet, heartfelt twist to the night.

“The love was overwhelming,” one fan tweeted. “Afrigo Band is a whole vibe, and Sophie Nantongo is still the queen of Ugandan love songs.”

“This is a cultural bridge connecting generations and giving Ugandans a reason to dance together again. We’re proud to partner with I&M Bank to keep this legacy alive,” said Tshaka Mayanja, Marketing Lead at Guvnor, after the show.