Elly Wamala All Star tribute concert goes well

By Steven Odeke

KAMPALA - The Elly Wamala All Star Tribute concert went down Friday evening, attracting hordes of the late musician’s fans at Kampala Serena Hotel.

The concert started off at 8:20pm local time, first with singer after singer enchanting over 1,300 revellers, redoing Elly Wamala’s songs.

Backed up by the legendary Afrigo Band, singers Joanitah Kawalya, Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Chris Evans, Mesach Semakula, Rema, Ronald Mayinja, Bobi Wine and Irene Ntale performed song after song that kept the veteran's fans entralled.

It was a night that took them down memory lane as they sang and hummed along.

Wamala’s singing sons Spurgeon Wamala and James Muwanga also performed and got people whispering about their incredible singing talents.
 

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The All Stars come to the stage. (Photo credit: Denis Dibele)
 

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MP Ken Lukyamuzi aka The Man (left) could not contain his delight, and decided to shake a bone, and another, and another . . .
 

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Buganda's Prince Jjunju autographs the portrait of Elly Wamala. (Photo credit: Denis Dibele)

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Aziz Azion doing what he does best: sing and stum away on his guitar. (Photo credit: Denis Dibele)

All songs like Lowooza Kunze, Njagala Obuto, Nkole Mpakase, Sacramento, Namiro, Ani Yali Amanyi, Leticia and Akaana Ka Kawalya were all fairly performed.

The main guest, the Nabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda thanked Wamala’s family for organizing such a significant concert and went on to urge all families of other deceased Ugandan legends to emulate the Wamalas.

She said: “I grew up listening to Wamala’s songs and before I met him [ at the 2003 PAM Awards], I had thought he was a very old man only to meet a youthful and humble man who had inspired many musicians.

“I urge all other families of legendary musicians to organise such shows so that we get to remember our legends.

“Ten years ago since he died, Wamala passed on the baton to Uganda artistes to take on the industry."
 

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Nabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda called on families of legends to commemmorate them

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Pastor Wilson Bugembe sang his heart out . . .

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. . . as did this die-hard fan of Elly Wamala with his grooving!

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Wamala's portrait was auctioned and Fr. Dr. Lawrence Ssemusu was the highest bidder

Wamala’s career spanned several years in which he recorded close to 60 songs that garnered him a massive fan base across the region.

He died in 2004 aged 69 and is survived by 12 children and a number of grandchildren.

The family, led by one of his youngest daughters Gertrude Wamala Karugaba, was present at the event and was clearly overwhelmed by the numbers that attended.
 

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Some of Elly Wamala's children

The veteran musician’s portrait was auctioned and Fr. Dr. Lawrence Ssemusu took the day with a sh1m bid.

Part of the proceeds from the concert will be used to expand the library of Mugongo Secondary School, Wakiso district.

The event ended at 11:45pm local time.

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Rema Namakula looked just as splendid in that green outfit as she did sing

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Could Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka miss out on such a memorable concert? No, she couldn't! In fact, she even stepped forth to finance the basket, as singer Mesach Semakula did the collecting

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Wamala's singing sons showed that they werecertainly made from the same genetic cloth as their legendary father

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Lukyamuzi mingles with friends