Oba jams Liberty

Jun 15, 2001

The show was supposed to start at 3:00pm. By 4:00pm the Equator Hall at Hotel Equatoria was more than half full.

By Sebidde Kiryowa The show was supposed to start at 3:00pm. By 4:00pm the Equator Hall at Hotel Equatoria was more than half full. But new-kid-on-the-block, gospel artist Jacqueline Oba did not appear on stage until 4:30. It was the official launch of her debut album, Liberty. Mrs Oba, in a resplendent in a yellow kitenge, showed up with a troupe of six young singers who comprise The Pearls, her back-up band. They burst into You Can Climb Every Mountain. Oba's enthusiasm, not so much the quality of her vocals, seemed to infect the audience most of whom were out there to give support to her cause. Mukama Ye Musumba Wange was an upbeat afro pop track that tried to break the ice. Oba's dance trio stole the show, livening up the performance. Oba's post-interlude performance generated more ululations and dancing than her first two songs. She set out with a not-so-brief spiritual preamble before launching into the danceable Liberty. The song is a vibrant Afro-carribean rhythm in the style of Monique Seka. True to its nature, virtually everyone was up and grooving. Liberty is a blissful journey through eight gospel quality-recorded tracks. The album blends both English and Luganda tracks. Yesu Akwagala, a Luganda treat is a danceable upbeat track that takes on a trifling of dancehall while The Name of Jesus is a slamming jam that will definitely get you up. Oba explores the conservative roots reggae genre on Holy Is The Lord while she keeps the tempo high with Let Him Know and Mukama ye Musumba Wange. She exhibits her ability to sing mellow harmonies with the closing ballad Abba Father. Oba, is a praise and worship leader at Redeemed Christian Church of God, Namuwongo. Liberty has been catching on fast on the radio stations in town. Sadly, it has been confined to Christian stations only. The show was marred by too many sales antics. The intensive fundraising drive in form of CD auctions was done in an effort to support Oba. But what the emcee never counted on was the adverse effect it had on the artistic flow. Ends

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