Hi guys, welcome to Kampala Edge Times. My name is John Kenny, and it’s been a while since I made a written podcast like this. You can listen to this article here.
What is the essence of concerts in Uganda?
Today, our topic is the essence of the concerts that musicians are organizing in Uganda. Yes, the essence of these concerts that musicians are putting up in Uganda.
How Bobi Wine began the Concert and Festival Culture
Before the lockdown, we saw Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, try to organize the Kyarenga concert. It didn’t go too well for him because he was already at odds with the ruling president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. As a result, they couldn’t let him fill Namboole Stadium with the Kyarenga concert. Things escalated from there, and he became a political leader in this country, eventually founding his own political party, the National Unity Platform. Bobi Wine has truly come from humble beginnings, and we can see this—it’s visible and tangible. You don’t need rocket science to understand it.
Then came the lockdown when COVID-19 broke out, from 2020 up to 2022, and it has been very tough. But fast forward, we began seeing other musicians start organizing concerts, beginning with Eddy Kenzo. We saw something like the Eddy Kenzo Festival, and it was a success—such a success.
Fast forward again, we saw the battle between Alien Skin and Pallaso. Yes, Pallaso versus Alien Skin. This was somewhat of a battle because they had concerts on the same date. Believe it or not, this was very dramatic. A video surfaced of Pallaso punching Alien Skin in the face, and there was nothing more surprising than this because Pallaso is a romantic singer. We didn’t expect him to be this violent.
We also saw Jose Chameleone with his 1 million concert, where people had to pay 1 million Ugandan shillings. It was really dramatic when he beat up a boda boda rider for scratching his vehicle. And guess what? The concert didn’t work out on the first try until he apologized. That’s when he was able to move forward with his concert.
We saw Sheebah versus Cindy, which had a lot of drama. It was so crazy. We also saw Juliana Kanyomozi put on a concert that worked out for her. Later on, we saw Irene Namubiru, who has been her long-time competitor and rival, also organize a concert. Then, we saw the comeback of Blu3. Blu3 also had a concert, and the group consists of Cinderella Sanyu, Jackie Chandiru, and Lilian Mbabazi. These three ladies are well known for their hit “Sanyu Lyange,” and their companionship with Radio and Weasel. It’s been a long journey, but they managed to get back together.
We have seen a lot of concerts, and trust me, Uganda has embraced this concept of concerts. They are no longer called shows; they’re called concerts. But I’m wondering, what’s the concept behind this? Is it about reconnecting with the fans, or is it about the money? To me, it feels like most of these musicians are now focused on the money instead of connecting with their fans. If you want to connect with your fans, you must release good music regularly. You don’t just come out of nowhere after years and expect people to show up at your concert just because you’ve made some advertisements.
Sadly, there have been concerts that flopped, even those by active musicians. For example, the lady who sang “Cheza For Yesu,” a song that has gone viral ever since its release, had a concert that didn’t work out well. Why? Because she didn’t have the resources to market it as effectively as other, more established musicians who have built their names over decades.
It’s crazy—someone who is putting in the hard work isn’t getting the attention they deserve, while someone else just wakes up, gets all the sponsorships they need, and boom—it’s all for profit. It’s really sad, and musicians need to respect Ugandans. Don’t just manipulate Ugandans. Yes, we love you, but don’t manipulate us. Don’t just come out of nowhere, hold a concert, make your profits, and then disappear like nothing happened.
Why should musicians stop organizing concerts just for profit?
Ugandans aren’t stupid. We need quality. Make concerts after engaging with us. Let us see your hard work. Let us see you releasing music and participating in initiatives. Be available to us publicly, and then hold your concerts. Some of these artists make a concert and then disappear again, thinking Ugandans are naive. But there will come a time when fans will stop believing in you if you continue to manipulate them.
So, I think we should stop making concerts just about the money. Yes, you’re going to make money, but what have you given us? One-time experiences aren’t enough. We need to feel that you’re alive and active. For example, Irene Namubiru should give us new music—quality new music. When you look at classic singers in the U.S. like Adele, or even Elton John, they continue to release new music that people can relate to. So when a concert is announced, people want to run there because these are classic singers who are still alive and doing well.
The subtle art of genuine successful concerts by Eddy Kenzo
If you make people love you, you’ll earn even without these concerts. These concerts shouldn’t be profit-oriented. They should be celebrations of what you’ve accomplished. Someone like Eddy Kenzo is an exception because he has consistently produced music, so when he organizes a festival, it’s bound to be a success. He’s a big brand, but he hasn’t become complacent. He’s stayed active and consistent, which is why his festival didn’t flop.
Congratulations to Eddy Kenzo on his appointment as a presidential advisor. We should probably emulate him.
Thank you so much. Have a good morning, and thank God it’s Friday!
