Jamaican dancehall group T.O.K return to Kampala for a conservation themed concert

December holidays are fast approaching when the diaspora and regional tourists get to travel back home, schools break, and everyone is in the mood to happen, as will be the case when dancehall’s beloved quartet T.O.K. take to the stage on December 26, during the “Riddim and Roar Experience” concert to be held at Lugogo Cricket Oval, Kampala.

This was confirmed by Safari Beats’ CEO Pauline Nahamya at a press conference held at Kampala Serena Hotel, Tuesday morning.

Pauline Nahamya and an official from UWA during the press conference Photo By Alfred Byenkya

Nahamya the, the second edition of “Riddim and Roar Experience” concert, will be aimed at blending entertainment, culture, and wildlife conservation in Uganda, and the Jamaican boy group will hit the road in Uganda and tour iconic sites like the Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda, the Source of the Nile, and also get to name a baby rhino at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch. Nahamya said, “Yes, they will be getting a name for Nankula’s boyfriend. Nankula was a female baby rhino named by Spice when she came to Uganda in May. This is to encourage support for rhino conservation.”

Emerging from the boyband era of the mid-90s, T.O.K. are popular here for a slew of their hits like Gyal Yuh Ah Lead (2004), Money To Burn, She’s Hot (2003) and Shake Your Bum Bum (2001), among others. They are comprised of Roshaun ‘Bay C’ Clarke, Craig ‘Craigy T’ Thompson, Alistaire ‘Alex’ McCalla and Xavier ‘Flexx’ Davidson. The last time the group performed in Uganda was in 2004.

At the conference, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities senior tourism development officer said the event promises to be an experiential journey that connects people, communities and conservation.

He said, “Earlier this year we set a spectacular precedent where we hosted the incredible Spice and successfully linked the creative arts to conservation by naming a rhino at the sanctuary Nankula. Building on that tremendous success, this edition brings a raw experience that it will take on an entirely new level. Rhinos are an integral part of Uganda's Big 5 and a critical symbol of our conservation recovery story.

Kampala Metropolitan Police’s deputy spokesperson Luke Owyesigire promises comprehensive security preparations by the police. “For the event’s security, together with other cybersecurity agencies, invited artistes and those from the Ministry Of Tourism, I know that we will give the necessary protection as you tour around the country as we did with the first edition when Spice was here. We always anticipate a big number of people, and we know the Cricket Oval is quite a big venue; we have always put measures in place like access control measures.