Steve Jean and co stir it up

By Vision ReporterLast Sunday, Mango made one year, and as usual celebrated the first anniversary by throwing a grand party in the shape of a concert at the sumptuous Nile Hotel Gardens. Just glancing at the names–– Steve Jean, Jose Chameleon, Jenkins, Amarula Family, Bebe Cool, Bataka Underground, Klear Kut–– indicated the bash was worth a glance.Just scanning the Nile Hotel crowd immediately prior to the gig it, was impossible to mistake the keen air of expectation —groups of 40-somethings and gangs of teenagers huddle in every little space swapping kaboozi. Even the respectful sparse set–– Peter Sematimba, Andrew Rugasira, Hope Mukasa, the Wavamuno’s and Halima Namakula–– seemed to echo the air of reverential anticipation that tonight’s line up evokes.Blame VR for not bringing in Michael Jackson for us by now, but not organisation. At exactly 8.00pm, Amarula Family was unleashed to the audience and they soon had it howling with their comedy drama. First up though was a young talented singer called Viboyo.If it were not for Luganda rapping, the lyrics would sound like they were lifted from Emine’s cliche songbook. Bataka Underground and Klear Kut also got their turn in the spotlight. These young men make the art of shouting and spitting the words rapidly out of the mouth seem magical and so easy through their attitude.Particularly of note is the added dimension of Bebe Cool, one of the wickedest artists, who also happens to nurse one of the biggest egos “Lights out. Give me smoke,” he commands as he walks on the stage.Once he is comfortable, he makes use of the space to unleash his energetic showmanship while dropping his goodies like techno-wrapped Mama Africa, which was corrupted from the football fans’ anthem Ole Ole Ole.Jose Chameleon accompanied by his back-up sidekick Chaga and two dancing queens take centre stage to rowdy screams. He fills that audience with the syrupy resonance of his new hits, but midway his set, the microphones start acting crazy to frequency interruptions, forcing him to stomp off the stage in disappointment. However, a few seconds later, he returns to bawl out the lyrics of his Mama Mia, making sure that no-one misses the fact that he is the ‘hit.’Amarula family returned to give the last and best shot by performing Saida Kaloli’s Wanchekecha. The crowd hollered with laughter as the Amarula with a dog face adds a comic twist to Saida’s stage antics that included caressing his thighs, shaking his stuffed buttocks and grinding his waist.The show-stopping moment finally arrived when MC Jenkins Mawanda with his sincere on-stage rapport announced the entry of Steve Jean. Suddenly, the stage filled with smoke and manic blinking disco lights.But instead of walking through the back door, the ‘expected’ one emerged from beneath the stage on a small lift like a resurrecting dead man! That’s when our honeymoon began.Live, Steve Jean proved he has an even more explosive appeal than on record as he gleefully lit the fuse on a stick of musical dynamite comprising a lethal blend of old hits like Kakokolo and Bundu. New ones like Fever, including a smouldering duet with an enticing young singer called Yvette on My Love is Your Love were also dropped to maximum effect.However, what elevates Steve Jean to new heights is the hormone-romping choreography of his back-up dancers who include the Shadow’s hilarious angels. They flit through the choreography in a way the best dance troupes can manage.By the time Steve hits the pivotal peak of reggae-ish Kankyakaleko, reaching its glorious crescendo, we have all been somehow seduced and would gladly queue up to reaffirm our vows of loyalty, devotion and trust to him, Jenkins, Amarula Family, Jose Chameleon, Bebe Cool Bataka Underground and Mango.In fact, at the end of the day, we don’t mind that all that the performers sung to pre-recorded, computer-processed music controlled by DJ Rota of Rainbow Sounds Disco. We don’t mind that for a fleeting moment, poor sound threatened to bring the show to its needs.We also don’t mind that casual scientific research suggests that Shadows Angels dress like sluts and dance like the devil’s disciples. Whatever happens along the way, let’s hope that we get to celebrate more Mango Telcel anniversaries in the deep and distant future.ends