Holiday makers’ least, most favoured celebs
May 18, 2006
DURING high school, we all had a whimsical teenage desire for or attachment with someone in the limelight. From musicians and film stars to television and radio presenters, there was always a celebrity whose behaviour, voice, music or dressing we either idolised or scorned.
By Raphael Okello
DURING high school, we all had a whimsical teenage desire for or attachment with someone in the limelight. From musicians and film stars to television and radio presenters, there was always a celebrity whose behaviour, voice, music or dressing we either idolised or scorned.
The New Vision went to Kampala’s churches, ice cream parlours, cinemas and streets and randomly asked 150 secondary school students on holiday, which local celebrity they are fond of or dislike. No options were given. However, some born again holidaymakers thought it was not right to judge people.
Otherwise, the verdict was generally mixed but the celebrity choices were biased to musicians and a couple of radio and television presenters. Different names popped up but others, for the good and bad reasons, got more mention.
Presenting the top 10 holidaymakers’ most and least favoured local celebs.
Favoured:
1. Julianna Kanyomozi
Winner of Female artiste of the year in last year’s PAM Awards, Julianna Kanyomozi is popular for songs like Nabikowa, Taata Wabana and Mama Mbire.
Her silky voice has endeared her to many high school female students who consider her a role model. “She has a great sense of style and perfect voice to match her looks,†said Mitchelle Nsubuga. The male students, on the other hand, do not seem to mind her. But a small number of boys accused her of being too proud. But Joan Abwooli from Kololo SSS came to her defence: “I have heard about her attitude but everyone gets it when they become popular,†she said.
2. Bebe Cool
The frequent media reports, detailing catfights between Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleon have not affected Bebe Cool’s popularity. It seems, Cool, has emerged from the scandals as cool as ice. He is loved for his songs like Fire and hated for dancing on top of tables. Eddy B from Namilyango College says Bebe Cool sings sense. Other students simply like him for having a “beautiful wifeâ€! But his unpopular stunt of dancing on tables left an indelible mark within a handful of students who believe he “lacks etiquette†and his “hairstyle is a turn off.†Fortunately, their numbers were fewer.
3. Peter Miles
Miles is popularly known for his dance hall songs for which many teenagers believed he should have been given a PAM Award last year. He is liked for his voice, rhythmic ragga songs like Rucus and sporty fashionable clothes. He picked most of his votes from the girls.
4. Angela Katatumba
Katatumba’s show of compassion for the suffering in northern Uganda through her charity campaign For You Gulu has won her many hearts in secondary schools. “She is inspiring and loves people,†commented a student from Nabisunsa Girls. Her songs are “meaningful†and she has a dope (appealing) American accent.
5. Mitch Egwang
Presenter of KFM’s morning show, Mitch Egwang, is admired mostly by the girls for his sense of humour, down to earth personality and good command of English. Kasami Paul from Busoga College Mwiri says, “He is presentable and rich in tongue.â€
6. DJ Ronnie
Ronnie’s Late Date show on Capital FM has spiralled his popularity especially among the girls who said that they like his calm and deep baritone voice.
7. Ragga Dee
Dee’s smooth cheeky rhymes in songs like Nkooye Obupangisa and Nkugudemu amuse a number of male holidaymakers. They say he is a talented and good-natured musician. “He hollas (salutes) at us whenever we meet him.â€
8. Karitas Karisimbi
Once a presenter of WBS TV’s Showtime Magazine, Karisimbi, a member of Capital Radio’s morning crew is liked by the girls for her simplicity and “down to earth†nature. Some of the boys said she has a “cute†smile.
9. Lyrical G
Crowned Hip-Hop artiste in last year’s PAM Awards. For his fluency and finesse in rap, Lyrical G was widely mentioned by the boys. They likened his talent to Ludacris, an American rapper.
10. The Obsessions
Their dance acts brought them to fame and once regarded as the most outstanding dance group in the country. Theatrical performances, songs like House Girl and, more recently, the controversial video of the song, Wekume, have distinguished them from other dance groups. Some students may have claimed that The Obsessions are “past it†but a majority of the holidaymakers are attracted to their lurid dance acts. They are considered a “slap†(skilled) dance group. The boys, in particular, say all the female group members are “serious chicks†(pretty).
DISLIKED
1. Bobi Wine
Known for two things - frequent fights with Jose Chameleone and his duets with Julianna Kanyomozi. Holidaymakers widely consider Wine as childish and responsible for the fights between Jose Chameleon and Bebe Cool. “Whenever there is a conflict, he rushes into a fight. He feels so mugged (strong),†said Ivan Mutasingwa from Kings College Budo.
2. Oulanya Columbus
As a radio presenter on Capital FM’s morning crew, Oulanya is hilarious and a natural. However, he is considered the direct opposite on the UBC music programme every Thursday. Many holidaymakers find his style of dressing and presentation boring. They want him to stay on radio but if he insists on staying on TV, they have advised fashion police to “go and get him!â€
3. Amarula Family
The humour of Amarula Family, Uganda’s celebrated stand-up comedians, is praised but the profound stitch of profanity in it finds no appeal among many holidaymakers.
“They are funny but very obscene. I cannot stand them,†said Sematimba Shaquib from Gombe SSS
4. Straka Mwezi
Mwezi is the presenter of WBS’s Late Show, a luganda music programme and a DJ on Beat FM. On the ticket of her bold outrageous fashion statements during the Late Show, Straka has won herself a slot among the holidaymakers least favoured local celebrities. “She is lively when presenting but I do not understand the clothes she wears. And that hair!†exclaimed Tiko Semakula from Lugazi Mixed. Most of them described her wardrobe as local.
5. Jose Chameleon
From his dressing and attitude to his fights and music, there were a lot of negative remarks said about Chameleon. You would say, from the number of students asked, he was the least favoured celebrity. They accused him for always wanting to reign over every other artiste in the country.
But in spite of his seemingly wide unpopularity, a few of the students we talked to believe Chameleone is the best artiste in Uganda and one of the best in East Africa.
6. Kazoora Jr. John
Presents Jam Agenda on WBS TV and is a DJ on K-FM. The girls said he is handsome and has a great physique. The boys declared his bold and charismatic presentation on Jam Agenda as unmatched in the land. But both sexes mostly agreed that he is a “show off†and has specialised in ripping off international artistes whom he hosts on Jam Agenda. “He asks them for their dope (expensive) belts and wrist watches in exchange for his local cheaper belts,†Mitchelle Nsubuga, from Kololo SSS said.
7. Mathias Ruhweza
For the couple of months he was on air as presenter of East Africa TVs Kampala Wired, he picked himself some haters. Even while on his rumoured sojourn in the United States, holidaymakers vividly recall what they did not like about him. Girls say he looks “scary†and the boys find his feminine mannerisms an irritant.
8. Red Bunton
The artist who brought us the song Ka Kona and WBS Owange, one of WBS TVs flagship songs, Bunton is said to lack the demeanour of a celebrity. While some say he is “shabbyâ€, others advise that he gets an image consultant or look up to his fellow celebrities for fashion ideas.
Eagles’ Production, Fat Boy (James Onen) of Sanyu FM and Tool Man (local artiste) are some of the names that were also mentioned among the least favoured celebrities but with no significant figures to warrant a definite spot.
DURING high school, we all had a whimsical teenage desire for or attachment with someone in the limelight. From musicians and film stars to television and radio presenters, there was always a celebrity whose behaviour, voice, music or dressing we either idolised or scorned.
The New Vision went to Kampala’s churches, ice cream parlours, cinemas and streets and randomly asked 150 secondary school students on holiday, which local celebrity they are fond of or dislike. No options were given. However, some born again holidaymakers thought it was not right to judge people.
Otherwise, the verdict was generally mixed but the celebrity choices were biased to musicians and a couple of radio and television presenters. Different names popped up but others, for the good and bad reasons, got more mention.
Presenting the top 10 holidaymakers’ most and least favoured local celebs.
Favoured:
1. Julianna Kanyomozi
Winner of Female artiste of the year in last year’s PAM Awards, Julianna Kanyomozi is popular for songs like Nabikowa, Taata Wabana and Mama Mbire.
Her silky voice has endeared her to many high school female students who consider her a role model. “She has a great sense of style and perfect voice to match her looks,†said Mitchelle Nsubuga. The male students, on the other hand, do not seem to mind her. But a small number of boys accused her of being too proud. But Joan Abwooli from Kololo SSS came to her defence: “I have heard about her attitude but everyone gets it when they become popular,†she said.
2. Bebe Cool
The frequent media reports, detailing catfights between Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleon have not affected Bebe Cool’s popularity. It seems, Cool, has emerged from the scandals as cool as ice. He is loved for his songs like Fire and hated for dancing on top of tables. Eddy B from Namilyango College says Bebe Cool sings sense. Other students simply like him for having a “beautiful wifeâ€! But his unpopular stunt of dancing on tables left an indelible mark within a handful of students who believe he “lacks etiquette†and his “hairstyle is a turn off.†Fortunately, their numbers were fewer.
3. Peter Miles
Miles is popularly known for his dance hall songs for which many teenagers believed he should have been given a PAM Award last year. He is liked for his voice, rhythmic ragga songs like Rucus and sporty fashionable clothes. He picked most of his votes from the girls.
4. Angela Katatumba
Katatumba’s show of compassion for the suffering in northern Uganda through her charity campaign For You Gulu has won her many hearts in secondary schools. “She is inspiring and loves people,†commented a student from Nabisunsa Girls. Her songs are “meaningful†and she has a dope (appealing) American accent.
5. Mitch Egwang
Presenter of KFM’s morning show, Mitch Egwang, is admired mostly by the girls for his sense of humour, down to earth personality and good command of English. Kasami Paul from Busoga College Mwiri says, “He is presentable and rich in tongue.â€
6. DJ Ronnie
Ronnie’s Late Date show on Capital FM has spiralled his popularity especially among the girls who said that they like his calm and deep baritone voice.
7. Ragga Dee
Dee’s smooth cheeky rhymes in songs like Nkooye Obupangisa and Nkugudemu amuse a number of male holidaymakers. They say he is a talented and good-natured musician. “He hollas (salutes) at us whenever we meet him.â€
8. Karitas Karisimbi
Once a presenter of WBS TV’s Showtime Magazine, Karisimbi, a member of Capital Radio’s morning crew is liked by the girls for her simplicity and “down to earth†nature. Some of the boys said she has a “cute†smile.
9. Lyrical G
Crowned Hip-Hop artiste in last year’s PAM Awards. For his fluency and finesse in rap, Lyrical G was widely mentioned by the boys. They likened his talent to Ludacris, an American rapper.
10. The Obsessions
Their dance acts brought them to fame and once regarded as the most outstanding dance group in the country. Theatrical performances, songs like House Girl and, more recently, the controversial video of the song, Wekume, have distinguished them from other dance groups. Some students may have claimed that The Obsessions are “past it†but a majority of the holidaymakers are attracted to their lurid dance acts. They are considered a “slap†(skilled) dance group. The boys, in particular, say all the female group members are “serious chicks†(pretty).
DISLIKED
1. Bobi Wine
Known for two things - frequent fights with Jose Chameleone and his duets with Julianna Kanyomozi. Holidaymakers widely consider Wine as childish and responsible for the fights between Jose Chameleon and Bebe Cool. “Whenever there is a conflict, he rushes into a fight. He feels so mugged (strong),†said Ivan Mutasingwa from Kings College Budo.
2. Oulanya Columbus
As a radio presenter on Capital FM’s morning crew, Oulanya is hilarious and a natural. However, he is considered the direct opposite on the UBC music programme every Thursday. Many holidaymakers find his style of dressing and presentation boring. They want him to stay on radio but if he insists on staying on TV, they have advised fashion police to “go and get him!â€
3. Amarula Family
The humour of Amarula Family, Uganda’s celebrated stand-up comedians, is praised but the profound stitch of profanity in it finds no appeal among many holidaymakers.
“They are funny but very obscene. I cannot stand them,†said Sematimba Shaquib from Gombe SSS
4. Straka Mwezi
Mwezi is the presenter of WBS’s Late Show, a luganda music programme and a DJ on Beat FM. On the ticket of her bold outrageous fashion statements during the Late Show, Straka has won herself a slot among the holidaymakers least favoured local celebrities. “She is lively when presenting but I do not understand the clothes she wears. And that hair!†exclaimed Tiko Semakula from Lugazi Mixed. Most of them described her wardrobe as local.
5. Jose Chameleon
From his dressing and attitude to his fights and music, there were a lot of negative remarks said about Chameleon. You would say, from the number of students asked, he was the least favoured celebrity. They accused him for always wanting to reign over every other artiste in the country.
But in spite of his seemingly wide unpopularity, a few of the students we talked to believe Chameleone is the best artiste in Uganda and one of the best in East Africa.
6. Kazoora Jr. John
Presents Jam Agenda on WBS TV and is a DJ on K-FM. The girls said he is handsome and has a great physique. The boys declared his bold and charismatic presentation on Jam Agenda as unmatched in the land. But both sexes mostly agreed that he is a “show off†and has specialised in ripping off international artistes whom he hosts on Jam Agenda. “He asks them for their dope (expensive) belts and wrist watches in exchange for his local cheaper belts,†Mitchelle Nsubuga, from Kololo SSS said.
7. Mathias Ruhweza
For the couple of months he was on air as presenter of East Africa TVs Kampala Wired, he picked himself some haters. Even while on his rumoured sojourn in the United States, holidaymakers vividly recall what they did not like about him. Girls say he looks “scary†and the boys find his feminine mannerisms an irritant.
8. Red Bunton
The artist who brought us the song Ka Kona and WBS Owange, one of WBS TVs flagship songs, Bunton is said to lack the demeanour of a celebrity. While some say he is “shabbyâ€, others advise that he gets an image consultant or look up to his fellow celebrities for fashion ideas.
Eagles’ Production, Fat Boy (James Onen) of Sanyu FM and Tool Man (local artiste) are some of the names that were also mentioned among the least favoured celebrities but with no significant figures to warrant a definite spot.