Konshens, Busy Signal bring Kampala to standstill

By Steven Odeke

Jamaican artistes Konshens and Busy Signal proved to their Ugandan fans as among the truest exponents of dancehall music during the "Dance With The Champion" concert on Friday night at Lugogo Cricket Oval, Kampala.

The two artistes on Friday performed several of their hits that endeared them to Ugandans, in their inimitable Jamaican-like style with vim and style, and communicated to their audiences as they expected it.

Konshens performing at Lugogo during the "Dance With The Champion" concert on Friday night. PHOTO/Miriam Namutebi

Starting off the Pepsi-sponsored evening were warm up performances from Ugandan deejays at 7:30pm, Nimrod, Slick Stuart and DJ Roja whose sprightly skills on the turntables accompanied by the roars of the night's emcees, Dave Dash and MC Kats, somewhat upped temperatures among the crowd.

Busy Signal performing at Lugogo on Friday August 28, 2015. PHOTO/Miriam Namutebi

And then the curtain raising acts from local singers Maro, Vampino, Ragga Dee, Fille, Nutty Neithan and A-pass followed, but with a lesser impact on the crowd, really.

After the opening acts, the organisers seemed to buy time ushering in comedians Alex Muhangi and Patrick Salvador to entertain the crowd.

Salvador was clearly not prepared for the show and one could tell it when he got on stage. He summoned his older tricks of singing nursery rhymes and that bailed him out.

An excited crowd at the Koshens and Busy Signal show on August 28 2015. PHOTO BY MIRIAM NAMUTEBI.

Konshens was the first, of the main acts, to perform. He hopped on stage at 9:30pm clad in a camouflaged jacket, slim black jeans and black T-shirt with inscriptions of his name. And then the fun started with revelers dancing to his popular songs like "Do Sum'n" "Gal A Bubble" "Simple Song" and "No Hesitation." Women love Konshens and they were the most excited throughout his performance.

Girls were clearly the loudest revelers as the Jamaicans worked the crowd at Lugogo on Firday night. PHOTO/Miriam Namutebi

This being his third time performing in Uganda, the ladies' screams were the loudest while most men just watched on.

But his performance was many times interrupted by the sound system glitches and one could tell it increasingly trampled on his nerves. That feeling seeped into the crowd and they seemingly grew bored until Jose Chameleone saved the session. The "Wale Wale" star took to stage amidst Konshens' session and worked up the crowds as he always does.

Confusion as NRM boss delivers Museveni's message

After an hour, Konshens was done. The organisers then used the break to bring in Justine Kasule Lumumba, the government Chief Whip to deliver President Yoweri Museveni's message to the revelers. He was reportedly supposed to be the chief dancer on the night but could not make it.

NRM boss Kasule Lumumba gets a hug from Koshens after delivering President's message. PHOTO/Miriam Namutebi

But that is when free drama surfaced when Lumumba asked the two Jamaican artistes to join her on stage and receive the message from the president. There was no way Busy Signal would let his shine stolen appearing on stage in a non-pompous way. So he refused to come on and for close to 20 minutes, confusion on stage bared before everyone as organisers seemed to beg the two stars to get on stage.

Only Konshens reappeared and received the message. And then Konshens asked everyone to clear the stage to usher in his fellow Jamaican to perform.

Just as he had prepared for it, Busy Signal got on at 10:50pm and the night resumed the Jamaican treat. He did many of his songs energetically than Konshens and worked up his crowd throughout his two-hour session. But unlike Konshens, revelers did not relate to some of Busy Signal's newer songs.

The "Reggae Music Again" singer expressed his joy at performing in Uganda for the second time and said, "I am really anticipating to get married in Uganda. I feel at home in Uganda. Maximum respect to the girls." He never disappointed, especially on his hits like "Missing You," "Bedroom Bully" and his rendition of "One More Night." He was done by midnight.