Coca-Cola Rated Next: 11 make it to day 2 in Fort Portal

By Caroline Ariba

Eleven people have stood out from a pool of 150 and made it to the day 2 of the Coca-Cola Rated Next auditions here in Fort Portal.

To reach this level though, they each had to impress at least two of the three judges at the auditions.

Farmers, business men, radio personalities, teachers, students, pastors, even children were among the people that showed up at the Garden restaurant here in Fort Portal for the auditions.

Forget the morning session, the afternoon session was more of a showcase of so many things but musical talent.

In fact, if Judges Esther Nabaasa, Ken Daniels Kayongo better known as Ken Daniels and Siima Sabiti were not out-rightly laughing, then they were pissed off!

They however also had moments where they disagreed on each other’s decisions and voted either yes or no!

For example, when 28year old Joel, a boda-boda cyclist took to a rather animated audition of Mesach Ssemakula’s song, First aid, Ken Daniels said yes and Esther and Siima said no.

“Come on, you let the key board guy go through, why not him,” Ken Daniels spoke. See, when a one Bryan walked with a key board earlier and was asked to sing instead,  Ken Daniels had said no but Nabaasa and Siima said yes.

Back to the drama though, when a one Elbizz auditioned, his lyrics were; “am just wanna rappu…” and quickly Ken Daniels said; “Elbizz am gonna have to top you right there!”

But that was just the beginning, a fela called Titan sung and Siima said; “yeah…did not really rock ma boat!”

The dramma was not done yet, Masereka Yona, a radio presenter in Fort Portal burst out in his own composition; “when I remember…the children of Kicwamba…” He was thanked for the message but shown the exit as politely as they could.

Then came a one Summit Peter aka 24/27 with a song he called ‘dance hall’, whose lyrics left judges laughing. “You take her as your sister, you take her for dinner but after she plans for your death,” he cried out and was equally shown the exit.

Kakwezi David Akiiki came in next, clad in an oversize jacket, flared pants, looking like a 60’s dude and auditioned Don Williams’ song; Desperately. He was rather stiff until Siima started bobbing her head and so did he. “Oh thank you David, I enjoyed that. You have got an interesting voice, though it is not what we are looking for,” Siima eventually told him.

Turned out, Coca-Cola Rated Next auditions without a concocted song about Coca-Cola would be incomplete when Mugisa John Calvin, a business man walked in.  “Coca-Cola products are very cool…” he sung before he was also shown the exit.



Then came poetry from a man who interestingly calls himself De- essential. “Handsome guy…essentially the musician lonely guy spend time on the hill…” De-essentially cried out in song. All three judges enjoyed the performance, though not his vocal ability and when they voiced it out, he insisted; “I am planning to record!” He was asked to stick to writing poetry, no more!

The children too came; yes, 9 year old Harriet was there! When asked who her favorite singer was, she responded with a song title; “‘jobera”. She then went on to do Irene Ntale’s jobera, but did not make it. 

Then came even more comedy from a fella with the weirdest of dreadlocks, kind of looked like lion fur and he called himself; Easylington! He did not walk in; he simply bounced in, pants sagging. “Who is your favorite artiste,” he was asked and he responded; “I am the best!”  He then started rapping and when Esther Nabaasa asked what language that was, he said; “tongues!” Ken then told him that he was too ‘swagged’ up for his own good and showed him the exit. 

Little did the judges know there was more where that came from; and it all came from a certain Bad man Fire Mesiah! 

His hair looked like water was no friend of his, and his eyes looked like he was equally high, and it was not liquor.  He faced walked in and faced away from the judges. “Face here,” Siima pleaded,” he turned his back to them instead. When he started singing though, it was a version of a rhyme that left the room cracked up.  “Munansonyiwa oluzungu simanayi, naye enyimba nina…” he offered in Luganda, to mean he did not know English, but had many songs. It was a no for him! 

Today will tell if all 11 will make it from Fort Portal to Kampala for the National competition where shs50m, a recording deal and an ipad have been staked.

Note, Coca-Cola Rated Next; sing it, now in its competition is a partnership between Urban TV and Coca-cola.

It will start showing this Sunday on both Bukedde and Urban TV at 7pm.

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