Magoola is an enchantress

By Cynthia NankumbaRACHEAL Magoola may have changed base and set new pace, but she certainly still holds a distinct element that is tightly knit to her. She has a gift that induces her audience to search over and under for her and follow her to every venue of performance like a hungry puppy after its master.She is a stunner. She is one in a few artists with the ability to do the singing and dancing concurrently. Her waist has a magnetic charm that invites ones eyes to concentrate on this much adored and well-shaped part of her body. Last Saturday night, she had no trouble proving to us that she still could smoothly sway and twist. She wore a silky maroon kundi show-suit exposing her treasure, and perhaps for easy twisting or to feed the eager eyes of her audience.As more people poured into the Kampala Regency Hotel on Namirembe Road, the music blared louder. Magoola was joined by her co-singer Joanita Nansukusa Ssebunya. She displayed more dancing strokes with each number she sang. The gentlemen had now grown tired of clapping their hands perhaps they feared getting them bruised. They now wanted to throw their weight on stage to join in the waist wriggling. Some were shouting to be permitted to touch the bouncy waist, but were too timid to get up.It was the Regency Hotel boss Johnson Okili who showed them all that he was man enough to steal the show. His bravery paid off. For he had Magoola all to himself and danced to almost disfigure his legs.It is hardly a year since her breakaway from the Afrigo Band, but she is already pulling a considerable crowd for her shows. The songs, however, received fewer cheers as compared to the dancing, perhaps because most of the lyrics were now common clichés to the audience’s ears. However, the audience persistently requested for Obangaina and Tiyenda Wundi, hits off Arigo’s Vincent album (2000) and Magoola’s Tiyenda Wundi album (2001) respectively. Obangaina topped the Ugandan music charts in 2000 and surpassed Vincent, which was Afrigo’s better choice on the album. The hit (Obangaina) received chunks of airplay on our local media stations. The album also fetched huge sales in America and London, where the Afrigo Band made several performances last year before Magoola’s breakaway.It is therefore of no wonder that it was the audience’s much preferred choice. Magoola eventually had no alternative except to yield to our demands and off we set, clapping our hands continuously. The band was all praise for Bell Lager, their sponsors. Magoola, with her backup singers Ssebunya and Jessica Nanfuka, belted out praises for the drink, reminding us that in order to achieve our goals, we had to choose the wise man’s drink. And indeed, more revellers were filling up on the drink. As the blaring music cut through the still dull air in Namirembe, more thronged the dignified two-month-old hotel to have a feel of it. More seats were added to accommodate the growing number. The sh3,000 as entrance fee appeared small. Walikobye and Kankute, however, had little impact on the audience. Even Omukwano Muzibu, highlighting the infidelity of men, had little charm. Perhaps the men were fed up of the constant reminder of their hit and run habits.Tonyiiga, off her brand new album, however, got the audience clapping, owing to its educative message, advising lovers to guard against rumour mongering. Meanwhile, the instruments in the background were blending well with the pieces. Makerere Khido on guitar, Stanley Ntwatwa on drums, Magezi and Jude Mugerwa and Simbwa on keyboard succeeded in balancing their instruments. If only Magoola would extend the charm in her jigs to her songs, my! I can imagine the locust audiences that would fall at her feet.ends