Who thrilled the crowd at the PAM awards?
Oct 09, 2003
There were many sides to the just concluded Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) awards. Some fans attended simply to see how the first ever music award show in Uganda’s musical history turned out. Others went to see their favourite stars perform
By Sebidde Kiryowa
There were many sides to the just concluded Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) awards. Some fans attended simply to see how the first ever music award show in Uganda’s musical history turned out. Others went to see their favourite stars perform.
“We did not necessarily look for people who were nominated as it seemed. We were looking for a variety - young and old. We were also interested in a diversity of languages and music genres to cater for as many people’s interests as we could,†Elvis Sekyanzi Wavamunno, one of the organisers of the PAM awards, says.
Ragga Dee was the only person who “performed in absentia.†The surprise performer of the night was Peter Ssematimba, Super FM president. Draped in black pants, a matching hanging shirt with white gloves and a hat, Ssematimba successfully pulled off suave Michael Jackson dance moves to our amusement.
My pick for performer of the night is Pastor George Okudi. With a 12-year musical wealth of experience stashed under his belt, Okudi brings unique verve to his performances, making them stirring and engaging experiences.
His brand of Gospel accentuates Afrocentric sounds that border on highlife and West African ethnic sounds. It is uptempo, danceable, utilises a lot of African instruments and is extremely infectious. It bears witness to Okudi’s West African musical inspiration, specifically from such African musical legends as Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour.
With his back-up dancers spread out across the stage in a colourful array, Okudi energetically pranced about the stage as he performed his hit song Wipolo.
Paulo Kafeero, who had earlier scooped both best artist and single awards in the Kadongo Kamu category, interrupted his performance of Dipo Naziggala because he did not “feel comfortable miming his own song over a recorded track.†Quite honourable I must add.
Then there were artists like Jose Chameleon and Kaweesa, two of the most crowd-stirring young performers this nation has seen, who, however, fell victim to the sequential arrangement that night.
As second last performer of the night, Chameleon, whose achievements of the night had endeared him to the crowd, never performed with the usual gusto. The crowd never responded to his Bbeyi Kaali (Song of The Year)in the usual fanatism. Reason? Both were exhausted!
Gerald Kiweewa managed to catch the crowd’s attention with the sheer power of his controversial Eggali Ekozeeko lyrics. Long after he left the stage, the applause continued. KADS Band, led by Prossy Kakunda singing the 2001 hit Akalulu, were worthy performers.
Their other credit was that they performed over live instrumentation. Maurice Kirya’s yet-to-be recorded Belanabo and Percussion Discussion Africa’s Mulamu were the other live performances.
Michael Ross, whose dance style is fast running out of spirit and is in desperate need of reinvigoration. Steve Jean’s radio hits Feva and Mwana Ggwe were well received but the Obsessions still have to work on initiating their fans into their new craft - singing.
Bebe Cool’s ostentatious style of drawing attention to himself went a step further, with the artist bringing his poodle on stage. He still stood on the guests’ table and leaped into the crowd with Gaetano Yasinga. Never Trust No People, his roots reggae song however got people into a groovy mood.
Chance Nalubega, commanding stage confidence, performed Ab’ennugu with her band and outshone both Titie’s less inspired performance of Ssegwanga and Yvette & Bella’s Annekutte.
There were many sides to the just concluded Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) awards. Some fans attended simply to see how the first ever music award show in Uganda’s musical history turned out. Others went to see their favourite stars perform.
“We did not necessarily look for people who were nominated as it seemed. We were looking for a variety - young and old. We were also interested in a diversity of languages and music genres to cater for as many people’s interests as we could,†Elvis Sekyanzi Wavamunno, one of the organisers of the PAM awards, says.
Ragga Dee was the only person who “performed in absentia.†The surprise performer of the night was Peter Ssematimba, Super FM president. Draped in black pants, a matching hanging shirt with white gloves and a hat, Ssematimba successfully pulled off suave Michael Jackson dance moves to our amusement.
My pick for performer of the night is Pastor George Okudi. With a 12-year musical wealth of experience stashed under his belt, Okudi brings unique verve to his performances, making them stirring and engaging experiences.
His brand of Gospel accentuates Afrocentric sounds that border on highlife and West African ethnic sounds. It is uptempo, danceable, utilises a lot of African instruments and is extremely infectious. It bears witness to Okudi’s West African musical inspiration, specifically from such African musical legends as Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour.
With his back-up dancers spread out across the stage in a colourful array, Okudi energetically pranced about the stage as he performed his hit song Wipolo.
Paulo Kafeero, who had earlier scooped both best artist and single awards in the Kadongo Kamu category, interrupted his performance of Dipo Naziggala because he did not “feel comfortable miming his own song over a recorded track.†Quite honourable I must add.
Then there were artists like Jose Chameleon and Kaweesa, two of the most crowd-stirring young performers this nation has seen, who, however, fell victim to the sequential arrangement that night.
As second last performer of the night, Chameleon, whose achievements of the night had endeared him to the crowd, never performed with the usual gusto. The crowd never responded to his Bbeyi Kaali (Song of The Year)in the usual fanatism. Reason? Both were exhausted!
Gerald Kiweewa managed to catch the crowd’s attention with the sheer power of his controversial Eggali Ekozeeko lyrics. Long after he left the stage, the applause continued. KADS Band, led by Prossy Kakunda singing the 2001 hit Akalulu, were worthy performers.
Their other credit was that they performed over live instrumentation. Maurice Kirya’s yet-to-be recorded Belanabo and Percussion Discussion Africa’s Mulamu were the other live performances.
Michael Ross, whose dance style is fast running out of spirit and is in desperate need of reinvigoration. Steve Jean’s radio hits Feva and Mwana Ggwe were well received but the Obsessions still have to work on initiating their fans into their new craft - singing.
Bebe Cool’s ostentatious style of drawing attention to himself went a step further, with the artist bringing his poodle on stage. He still stood on the guests’ table and leaped into the crowd with Gaetano Yasinga. Never Trust No People, his roots reggae song however got people into a groovy mood.
Chance Nalubega, commanding stage confidence, performed Ab’ennugu with her band and outshone both Titie’s less inspired performance of Ssegwanga and Yvette & Bella’s Annekutte.