‘Dirty’ dance displays flavour Nakivubo show

Nov 07, 2002

The crowd’s extravagant delight was spontaneous but it had been predictable at the fundraising music concert dubbed Emyoyo Gyabadukirize

By Raphael Okello

The crowd’s extravagant delight was spontaneous but it had been predictable. In a fundraising music concert dubbed Emyoyo Gyabadukirize, a coalition of some of the acclaimed local music groups was going to display an explosive music extravaganza on November 3, 2002.

Kulabako Guitar singers, Nalubaale Theatre, Kabuladda Guitar Singers, Bakayimbira Dramactors and Eagles productions assembled at Nakivubo Stadium to honour and raise money for the families of their fallen musicians –– Livingstone Kasozi, Umar Katumba and Herman Basudde.

By 2:30pm, the stage was already set. The machines were ready, or they seemed so. Stage organisers still fiddled with the cables, console feathers, microphones, electric guitars, keyboards and drums in a last minute sound systems test.

But hours dashed by and none of the overly anticipated music maestros had shown face. The anxious crowd jostled around the makeshift stage and others thronged the pavilions. Their patience was soon pushed over the edge.

“Twagala Kafeero!” (“We want Kafeero!”) they demanded, screamed and hurled curses at the charmingly jovial stage managers, yet the crowd was fast swelling as hundreds continuously streamed in the stadium. The dark clouds eerily boiled over the stadium. Slight drizzles, threatening to ruin the party, temporarily dispatched the crowd but they soon regrouped before it hardly quelled.

At about 3:30pm, the curtain was raised. Lydia Nakkubulwa, a brown beauty from Kulabako Guitar singers, ambushed the stage. Her song, Abasajja Muyige okufumbya, was a stinger for men. She sent the disgruntled crowd screaming and ululating as she twisted her waist and rhythmically gyrated her bum. The crowd loved her performance.

The back to back non-stop string of music and dance rendition that followed made sure the fans forgot about the time they had been kept waiting.

If Nakkubulwa’s performance had sent them ecstatic, prossy Najjuuko’s outrageous dance moves and sensational voice, singing Eneeyisa y’abaami, left the crowd bewildered at her stamina. In Lingala fashion, she notoriously swivelled and grounded her waist with ease, tantalising and challenging everyone tempting to believe she had a ball bearing in her waist.

In her song, she humourously scorned male insensitivity and the female fans supported her fiercely. A disarmed male reveller gasped in astonishment:

“Naye kano kayaye nyo!” (“This one is a real brat!) he said but showed no trace of disappointment. In fact, he craved for more of her tantalising dramatic ‘dirty’ displays. Everyone did. She was brilliant for the day.

One after the other, solo musicians from Kulabako Guitar singers monopolised the stage to renew the crowd’s wild reactions whenever it appeared to ebb. But when Paul Kafeero slithered on the stage, thunder struck.

Dressed in his a flat hat, black overcoat and a twisted golden brown walking stick and gumboots, he was like a perfect picture of a farmer taken from Kiboga. Singing Singa nali nze, his rustic African voice struggled to soar above the hollering. Fans thronged the stage, clamouring to offer money or to have a rare chance posing for a memorable picture with the superstar. He was the crowd’s darling. Every time he appeared, the atmosphere was electric.

Nalubaale theatre’s Mulindwa Muwonge was suave but I would have preferred him in theatre. Singing the late Herman Basudde’s enimiro y’okubuganga, he successfully sounded as if he was being throttled. He was lucky to stop singing when he did. I thought he was fast running out of oxygen and about to drop dead!

In a fleeting moment, Ssebaana Kizito, the city Mayor, appeared on stage and roared with his proverbial gruff voice. The crowd did a good job pretending to enjoy his presence.

Sserunjoji, Aisha Nakito and Rose Namata among others made exciting performances and vigorous dance rendition.

Eagles Productions were next with Ronald Mayinja singing Abamala Obudde, Geofrey Lutaaya with Abamanyi omukwano and Mesach Ssemakula singing Ritah.

The crowd, dancing in a frenzy, was too preoccupied to care about the darkness and certainly about the day after. For me, it was time to go though fans were still asking for more.

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