When Cece Winans led Kampala in praise

 

 

She held two shows at Namboole Stadium and the Kampala Serena Hotel on December 7 and 8 respectively. Her visit to Uganda was organised by US-based FishneXt Production, in conjunction with Power FM.

 

While she was here no press photographs of her live event were allowed as she had come along with her press unit.

 

At the Serena Kampala Hotel International conference centre concert, the opening act was by Mac Elvis who was a renowned gospel artiste in Uganda, who would die tragically in Tanzania seven years later. 

 

The VIP audience at the concert included the Nabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda, members of the First Family, Hajji Nasser Sebaggala and Amama Mbabazi, but titles were soon forgotten as everyone got up and got lost in praise of God. At the end of the day, it did not really matter what one's denomination was, Cece had everyone on their feet dancing.

 

 American and gospel musician Cece Winans with  Watoto Children at the Watoto Village in Nsangi on Masaka Road on December 6, 2006, in Kampala. File Photo

She performed songs such as He's A Wonder, I am, Pray, Alright, Colourful World, Mercy Said No, Alabastar Box, Purify Me, Thirst For You and an interlude that included snippets of such songs as The Sweetest Name and Jesus Loves Me.

 

During her stay in Uganda, she visited the Suubi children's village run by Watoto Child Care Ministries, freely interacting with the caretakers with earnest curiosity. She said she had been blown away by the work of Watoto Ministries.

 

Cece Winans is the eighth of 10 siblings in what many refer to as the ‘first family of gospel.' Her siblings include Benjamin with whom she performed for many years under the professional name Bebe and Cece; her older brothers Marvin, Carvin, David Winans II, Ronald, Michael and Daniel; and her sister Angelique and Debra Renee, almost all of whom are musicians.

 

Cece is a mother, a wife to Alvin Love, founder of her own record label Purespring and also an author.