Jabba Festival’s fourth edition leaves a lasting impression

The boys were back in town, and they came ready to shake a leg, literally!

Old boys from some of Uganda’s traditional single-sex boys’ schools converged at Zone 7 in Mbuya for the fourth edition of the Jabba Festival, an evening of nostalgia, friendly rivalry, laughter and, of course, some serious legwork.

The festival was essentially a showdown of Jabba's moves, with men from different generations stepping out to prove that age had done little to slow down their dancing feet.

Smackists from St Mary's College Kisubi (SMACK), who proudly call themselves the ‘Jabba Kings’, dominated the gathering in numbers, although they faced spirited representation from old boys of St Henry’s College Kitovu, Namilyango College, King's College Budo, Mwiri and other schools.

Members Of The Audience Joined In Dancing Jabba. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

The school rivalry was evident when the evening's MC, Daniel Omara, jokingly conducted a roll call to establish whether the right people had turned up for the occasion. A few guests from schools with little Jabba history also showed up, apparently happy to enjoy the spectacle alongside their friends.

For the uninitiated, Jabba is a high-energy group dance closely associated with SMACK. It is characterised by a relatively steady upper body, rapid, vibrating and stuttering leg movements, rhythmic foot tapping and expressive hand gestures.

Dancers often add chest taps, shuffling steps and animated movements, all perfectly timed to the beat. It is a dance that demands rhythm, coordination and stamina, and judging by the performances, some of the old boys have lost none of these.

Jabberians. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

Hosting the night, Gaetano Kaggwa, himself a smackist, wasted little time stirring up the school rivalry. He challenged old boys from other schools to produce a cheer that could rival SMACK's. The response was underwhelming, prompting his trademark hilarious laughter and leaving the challenge unanswered.

There was another amusing moment when he jokingly asked whether Gayaza High School was represented. A few cheers emerged, courtesy of some women who had accompanied their husbands to the festival.

Marcus Kwikiriza (second Left) enjoys the Jabba moves alongside Gaetano Kagwa and friends. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

The Jabba action kicked off with the Kitovu old boys taking to the stage. Their performance was impressive, almost as though they had come with a point to prove to the schools waiting in the wings. Their energetic moves drew applause and laughter from the ladies, who appeared thoroughly entertained by the display.

But when the much-anticipated ‘Kyusa Watto’ crew took to the stage, the stakes seemed to rise. As the school widely credited with popularising the dance, the Smackists had a reputation to protect, and they did not disappoint.

Kyusa Watto Dance Group Doing Their Thing During The 4th Edition Of Jabba Fest. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

They unleashed a series of familiar moves and impressive variations, getting the crowd involved. Those who could not leave their seats joined in with animated hand movements, while others got up to dance along.

Beyond the friendly competition, the Jabba Festival was ultimately about reconnecting, celebrating old school memories and having a good time. There was no grand prize or multimillion-shilling reward at stake. The winning bragging rights came with a crate of beer.