Moro's Jap melodies thrill fans

ENTERTAINMENT

Songstress Apio Moro's second solo concert had two kinds of fans. The first kind was those who have known and followed her and her music with a passion. Second kind was those who had heard of or seen her perform a song or two at a city gig. The latter were at the show to explore and take a chance on her art.

But as it turned out, Friday evening affair at The Square, industrial area Kampala was a manifestation that good art does not need popularity to entertain. The less known songstress on the mainstream music circuit gave her fans an animated experience with her scintillating vocals.

The show was a listeners' party on which she released her second album, Choore. Like the title, Choore (a Dhopadhola word for ‘come closer'), Moro gave her fans an up-close and personal treat on which she was literally expressing herself, telling the audience her story through music.

But before she took to the stage, performers; Zoe the Storyteller, Kenneth Mugabi and Shifah Musisi curtain-raised to set the pace for a feel-good acoustic experience.

Fans enjoying Apio Moro's performance at the show

 
Moro was ushered in by veteran Luga-flow rapper, Babaluku, whose act preached roots and cultural consciousness.

And indeed, Moro's act didn't wad off the tempo. Kicking off with relaxed tune, Onduuri, Moro - a Japadhola who largely sings in her mother tongue, Dhopadhola—crooned her soul out on melodic songs laden with stories.

With a repertoire of 13 songs, eight of which were off the launched album, Apio sung about her love and friend relationships, and life struggles and mysteries. The audience listened in as they bobbed to her soulful melodious act, fastened with her guitar and a deft backup instrumentation.

But the surprise stage appearance of singer Jamal, as Moro did a Dhapodhola rendition of his hit Ononsonyiwa, couldn't leave revellers in their seats. They went on their feet to groove away and sing along, as Jamal performed two more songs.

Moro came back to entertain the more as she performed Pariye, a song she redid with English Grammy award-winning songstress Joss Stone; and a cover of Oliver Mtukudzi's Neria as attribute to the fallen music legend.

She ended her show with Bayi, a groovy song that saw revellers dancing with her. At the end, the two kinds of fans in Moro's audience got the same experience.