Fik Fameica kneels to thank the audience for showing up. PHOTO/EDGAR R BATTE
A number of things played in Fik Fameica’s advantage as he put on his second concert at Hotel Africana last Friday. These included a perfect weather, an affordable ticket, the timing of the holidays and an accessible venue. The show also received a boost from different artistes and socialites that endorsed it, the icing on the cake must have been Bobi Wine’s call to action, reminding his followers about the rapper’s concert.
His initial Facebook post was asking his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi Itungo to get ready because he was taking her out for Fik Fameica’s concert. In the comments, Barbie approved by noting that she was already looking for a dress.
And Bobi Wine kept his word, showing up for the concert early enough before Fik Fameica could start his session. The former presidential aspirant was in the company of his wife, singing partner Nubian Lee and son Solomon Kampala.
Ghosts of Kyadondo
Real names Walukagga Shafik, Fik Fameica broke onto the scene in an unceremonious way. With club bangers such as Mbega wa Baala and Kutama, he announced his presence though was immediately rocked by plagiarism allegations.
However, even with all the criticism he gets, Fik Fameica always finds a way of pulling one back. For instance, during his Ugandan visit, South African rapper Cassper Nyovest tweeted that he was such a talent Africa had to look out for. This was shortly after WizKid had talked about collaborating with him.
Nevertheless, even with such endorsements, his concert at the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds failed to attract revelers. A lot of things were cited such as the timing, venue and pricing.
This concert was very important for the rapper considering the fact that his first at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in 2018 failed terribly, thus, for his confidence and future concerts, this had to work.
Revellers at Fik Fameica’s concert at Hotel Africana on Friday night. PHOTO/EDGAR R BATTE
Prior to the concert, he had vended tickets downtown in places like the St Balikudembe Market, where he once worked as a hawker, to the Taxi Park and other surrounding areas.
Fik Fameica has a younger audience and thus they started arriving at the venue as early as 3pm. But the show was meant to start at 7:30pm when a slew of curtain raisers started taking to the stage.
At 10:30pm, the stage was all set for the man of the night. Dressed in a white suit, the rapper started his set with I am Different, Fresh and Clean and Love Love. Unfortunately, there were issues with the sound that it was almost impossible to hear the background vocalists, the rapper himself was also off key at the start.
“I have a special guest tonight. Bobi Wine. You’ve inspired all of us and I respect you and your hustle so much,” the artiste said prompting the deejay to play Bobi’s songs Singa and, Number One as the crowd chanted Bobi Wine.
He thanked the audience for turning up in big numbers as he progressed with songs such as Muko, Omu bwati, Mbega waa Bala and Kutama among others.
His final session had him perform Champion, life is so sweet. Why, Mafia that was clearly one of the people’s favorite as they abandoned their seats, Lock, Property and finally Buligita.
He was later joined by Vinka, Spice Diana and Azawi for their collaborations Tubikole, Ready and Majje.
issejjombwe@ug.nationmedia.com