Afrigo band on stage
Afrigo band needs no introduction anymore; in fact, visitors to Uganda have been known to ask ahead of their itinerary, where the band will be playing on the days they will be in the country so they can schedule a band night.
And the band made 48 this year, celebrating in style at a sold-out Legends of Sound show at the Sheraton hotel gardens last Saturday. No mean feat, considering that tickets for the anniversary gig went for Shs 75,000 ordinary, Shs 150,000 silver and a table for eight at Shs 5m.
Afrigo band’s historically unique ability to draw fans of all adult age groups means that wherever the band is scheduled to play, at whatever price, the crowds will follow.
The show started by 7 pm with opening acts from Mesach Semakula and Ragga Dee. By 8:20 pm, Afrigo band came on amidst fireworks, with their adrenalin-pumping [Abaana ba Afrigo] Batuuse, before going into Emmere Esiridde, Mundeke and Emali.
The crowd was having an amazing time when the band took a break at 9:40 pm, when special guest Awilo Longomba stepped on stage and
switched things up the way only a Congolese soukous star can!
“It’s my first time to play with a local band and it is a good band with experience,” said Awilo, who depended on Afrigo’s band and dancers that held fort beautifully. He performed three songs before Eddy Yawe came on with Mukayembe, Tukigale and at 10:40 pm MP Racheal Magoola returned with her hit song Obangaina.
At 11 pm, veteran DJ Alberto took over the decks with old-school mixes. Afrigo band returned on stage for their last session at 11:20 pm, singing Taliyo, Mp’eddembe, Music, and Speed, which they performed with 61-year-old Awilo to an excited crowd.
They then joined Awilo to bring the roof down with his signature Karolina, a song that sent feet kicking this way, that way, and waists wriggling like it was a competition.
Jose Chameleone came in as a surprise act at 11:47 pm performing Wale Wale, Kipepeo and Mama Rhoda, and fans were too busy to ask how his recuperation was going.
atiluknathan@gmail.com
Source: The Observer
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