Party is on: Ne-Yo promises great show tonight

Oct 30, 2015

American R&B singer Ne-Yo (born Shaffer Chimere Smith) has promised Ugandans who will attend Friday's Bell Pop 'N Jam concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval, Kampala, a great time and great performance

By Steven Odeke

American R&B singer Ne-Yo (born Shaffer Chimere Smith) has promised Ugandans who will attend Friday's Bell Pop 'N Jam concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval, Kampala, a great time and great performance.


This was revealed at the press briefing held by the organisers at Sheraton Kampala Hotel in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Ne-Yo arrived in the country at 10:30 Thursday evening aboard KLM flight and was whisked to Sheraton Hotel where he spent the night with his 35-man crew.

Ne-Yo speaks during the press conference upon arrival Thursday night. Photo/Denis Dibele

On arrival, amid a flurry of pressmen activity, Ne-Yo never looked jaded and was ready to engage with the press but, the security around him was having none of it.

"I didn't know what to expect when I was contacted to perform in Uganda because I had never been in this part of African region," he said.

"I am a man of present and when I get something to do; I think of the present and live it. All I can say is, I promised deliver a great time tomorrow and I want you guys to expect a great performance."

Ne-Yo jetted into the country Thursday night with a 35-strong crew. Photo/Denis Dibele

Popular for songs like "So Sick," "When You're Mad" "Sexy Love" "Closer" and "Miss Independent" Ne-Yo is also a talented songwriter who caught musical global attention when he wrote American singer, Mario's "Let Me Love You" hit that reached number one on the Billboard Hot100.

His musical career started at an early age as a member of Romford-based quartet Envy. The group disbanded and Ne-Yo took on a solo career. He is a superb stage performer, renowned for his dance skills.

His talents had caught the eye of late pop icon Micheal Jackson who had promised to embark on a project with him after his "This Is It" tour. Unfortunately, it never worked out.

He commented about it when asked by Yours Truly about it at the press briefing, whether he recorded some stuff he had worked on with MJ. "No, I decided to put it aside and forget it." He said.

The show on Friday is sponsored by Bell Lager alongside Vision Group's XFM and Urban TV.
 


 

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