Navio proved doubters wrong with Njogereza. Below: Maddox is still a force to reckon with. PHOTOS BY ISAAC SSEJOMBWE
Hundreds of Kampala’s festivals combined into one during the inaugural Roast and Rhyme fest at the Jahazi Pier on Sunday.
For starters, there was alot of muchomo, blankets, wines, ice cream, beer and of course revellers who could care less that schools across the country would open the next day.
Because the little-known venue provided the best serenity for such an event, people feasted away to virtually everything that could be roasted from meat, sausages and even maize.
Away from the meat and the bouncing castles for the children, the other eye opener was the action that was taking place on the stage. Besides the earlier mentioned headliners who included Maddox Sematimba, Steve Keys and Navio, the event further had Kenneth Mugabi throwing in a few songs such as Kibunomu and ‘Naki’, earlier in the day to keep the audience warmed.
Madoxx doing his thing
Steve Keys will however be remembered for covers and not his own songs. He did a brisk job, skirting and delicately tiptoeing through Justin Bieber’s ‘Sorry’, ‘I know who I am’ by Sinach and ‘Make it up’ by Rock City among others. He paved way for Navio who did ‘Ngalo, Nawulilanga, Bugumu, Mr Dj with Viboyo and Benon joining him and finally ‘Njogereza’ that got the crowd shaking vigorously.
The long awaited Maddox was next on stage. The reggae sensation emerged from the dim lights with his ‘Dembe’. This got some of the revellers closer to the stage. Young and old alike, party goers danced to other tracks such as Wowote, Omuyimbi, Won’t give up, Nakatudde and climaxed his 45 minute performance inviting the rest of the artistes of the day on stage to do Namagembe.
With this success, Swangz Avenue are contemplating on having the event at least four times a year. Whether it’s a good move or not, the first event was registered a success.
issejjombwe@ug.nationmedia.com