WARID unleashed
Jan 13, 2008
COUNTLESS firms have, in the previous years, launched their products with some kind of glitzy affair at one of Kampala’s hotels. But going by WARID Telecom’s launch at Speke Commonwealth Resort on Wednesday, they re-defined the term ‘launch’.
By Timothy Bukumunhe
COUNTLESS firms have, in the previous years, launched their products with some kind of glitzy affair at one of Kampala’s hotels. But going by WARID Telecom’s launch at Speke Commonwealth Resort on Wednesday, they re-defined the term ‘launch’.
This was not the normal run-of-the-mill launch with Kfm’s Uncle Mitch as the host followed by a dance act from either Infinity Dancers or Obsessions. WARID’s launch was a mixture of a New York Broadway production meets Star Wars written all over it.
For Osamah Ali, the concept creator from Abu Dhabi, three months of planning ended up with a launch that “Africa has never seen before.†Over 30 tonnes of equipment was flown in from Europe and Asia and this included the stage, the vast array of lights and lasers and a high output sound system.
WARID were determined to make an impact. And they did. Well before their chairman, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan touched down at Entebbe Airport, CNN in its news bulletins, was already announcing the launch.
And when the event finally kicked off in the presence of President Yoweri Museveni, the dawn of a new era was finally underway. The drums that opened up the launch were all about communication. Putting it simply, it read: drums = communication = WARID.
A combination of an Arabic drum beat mixed with traditional Ugandan drums. While the drums held the audience together, it was the futuristic ‘Star Wars’ laser show that captivated.
Almost emerging from a hologram in the centre of the stage, the wizard behind the lasers pulled off an incredible feat that had guests gasping and wondering what was to come next.
They had barely recovered from that dazzling experience never seen before in Uganda when the fireworks went off. They were not the kind fireworks we are used to seeing on New Year’s Eve at the Sheraton Hotel. Like one guest commented, they were “more like New York Times Square on New Year’s Eve.â€
To add that extra oomph, the pyrotechnics display was synchronised to the more than impressive light display dubbed the Symphony of Lights.
But it was the Three Waiters — Gerard Bentall, Jonathan Penton and Mark Lanahan who stole the show with an operatic performance comparable to that of the Three Tenors and especially with their rendition of Pavarotti’s Nessun Dorma.
And though they were perfect with their Italian and French accents, they nevertheless hail from Australia, Ireland and America!
Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan talked about the warmth of Uganda and pledged to invest not just in the communications industry but also in banking and real estate, while Museveni who on a rare occasion actually read a prepared speech, called for the reduction in prices and called on WARID to bring more people to Uganda to invest.
Sanyu FM presenter, Crystal Newman also finally graduated from hosting the Royal Ascot Goat Races and did an excellent job as Mistress of Ceremonies while WARID staff, notably Brian Muwonge, Joseph Walusimbi and Hakeem Buza can be commended for their efforts in seeing the whole show come together.
While WARID may have dazzled their guests, one VIP had this to say: “WARID, we came, we saw and we were impressed. However, let us see if you can also impress us with your services.†With that comment, the jury went out to deliberate.
COUNTLESS firms have, in the previous years, launched their products with some kind of glitzy affair at one of Kampala’s hotels. But going by WARID Telecom’s launch at Speke Commonwealth Resort on Wednesday, they re-defined the term ‘launch’.
This was not the normal run-of-the-mill launch with Kfm’s Uncle Mitch as the host followed by a dance act from either Infinity Dancers or Obsessions. WARID’s launch was a mixture of a New York Broadway production meets Star Wars written all over it.
For Osamah Ali, the concept creator from Abu Dhabi, three months of planning ended up with a launch that “Africa has never seen before.†Over 30 tonnes of equipment was flown in from Europe and Asia and this included the stage, the vast array of lights and lasers and a high output sound system.
WARID were determined to make an impact. And they did. Well before their chairman, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan touched down at Entebbe Airport, CNN in its news bulletins, was already announcing the launch.
And when the event finally kicked off in the presence of President Yoweri Museveni, the dawn of a new era was finally underway. The drums that opened up the launch were all about communication. Putting it simply, it read: drums = communication = WARID.
A combination of an Arabic drum beat mixed with traditional Ugandan drums. While the drums held the audience together, it was the futuristic ‘Star Wars’ laser show that captivated.
Almost emerging from a hologram in the centre of the stage, the wizard behind the lasers pulled off an incredible feat that had guests gasping and wondering what was to come next.
They had barely recovered from that dazzling experience never seen before in Uganda when the fireworks went off. They were not the kind fireworks we are used to seeing on New Year’s Eve at the Sheraton Hotel. Like one guest commented, they were “more like New York Times Square on New Year’s Eve.â€
To add that extra oomph, the pyrotechnics display was synchronised to the more than impressive light display dubbed the Symphony of Lights.
But it was the Three Waiters — Gerard Bentall, Jonathan Penton and Mark Lanahan who stole the show with an operatic performance comparable to that of the Three Tenors and especially with their rendition of Pavarotti’s Nessun Dorma.
And though they were perfect with their Italian and French accents, they nevertheless hail from Australia, Ireland and America!
Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan talked about the warmth of Uganda and pledged to invest not just in the communications industry but also in banking and real estate, while Museveni who on a rare occasion actually read a prepared speech, called for the reduction in prices and called on WARID to bring more people to Uganda to invest.
Sanyu FM presenter, Crystal Newman also finally graduated from hosting the Royal Ascot Goat Races and did an excellent job as Mistress of Ceremonies while WARID staff, notably Brian Muwonge, Joseph Walusimbi and Hakeem Buza can be commended for their efforts in seeing the whole show come together.
While WARID may have dazzled their guests, one VIP had this to say: “WARID, we came, we saw and we were impressed. However, let us see if you can also impress us with your services.†With that comment, the jury went out to deliberate.