Ugandan musician Navio performs during his concert in Kampala on September 2, 2023.
As a testament of his authentic contribution to the genre and putting Uganda on Hip Hop map, Maison Hennessy not only invited Navio to join a specially selected group of top international artists in celebrating Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary in New York City in July this year, anchored by Hip Hop icon Nas buy they also spearheaded the VVIP experience at his 20-year music concert.
“Until I saw the crowd, this was going to be my last show,” Navio real name Daniel Kigozi revealed a few minutes after he had stepped on stage last Saturday evening during his ’Navio at 20’ concert at Sheraton Hotel Gardens produced by Talent Africa.
With the buildup to this event, promotion, investment, time, and most importantly his perseverance to Hip Hop, his statement made a lot of sense.
Navio is not your ordinary artiste who holds a concert annually. He is deliberate with his concerts. Imagine he has had no more than five concerts in his 20-year-music career and this particular one meant a lot to him. Not just celebrating 20 years in the industry but it is also this year that Hip Hop celebrates 50 years.
This concert happened on the same day that Gravity, another Ugandan rapper had a concert but that did not stop Hip Hop enthusiasts, well-wishers, friends, and family from accessing the gardens in big numbers.
The venue had four entry points, with the VVIP accessing the show near the hotel, the general section using the entrance at the Independence Monument, and the VIPs using the gate opposite Speke Hotel.
The highly raised stage was built near the hotel side and all sections had a vantage point to see exactly what was happening on the stage even with the two screens at both ends of the stage.
Revelers started accessing the venue by 4 pm and the numbers kept growing thereafter. It was at 6:40 that the show kicked off with Mckenzie taking it off.
Being a typical Hip Hop show, McKenzie was the ideal Mc for the show. His contribution to the genre can’t be taken for granted and there was no better option than him. On the decks was DJ Crim, one of those staunch Hip Hop deejays.
At 7 pm, St Maxine stepped on stage and did three songs before other artists like Lamu, Martha Mukisa, and trio Tripple S also performed.
McKenzie returned on stage with his verse in Sembela, a song in which he is featured alongside Rabadaba, GNL, and Nick Nola shortly after introducing
Zulitums got the crowd excited with his ‘Oluvanyuma’, Tabu, and ‘Uberman’. Levixone followed and the audience was even more excited singing along to ‘Turn the Replay’, Mbeera, and Chikibombe. Maro came next with Kamboyine and Anjagala and admitted that this was the first time he was performing after two years.
At 9 pm, the band came on stage, followed by a choir and Afrigo Band’s Joanita Kawalya. Many expected her to perform but her simple role was to introduce Navio but before she could do that, a short documentary was played on the screen with Navio appreciating his family for being there for him.
Kawalya did a simple composition. Calling Navio to return, how he shouldn’t be threatened despite singing a style that many don’t give attention to. Like a hype man, Joanita Kawalya’s call to Navio was loud enough to make everyone get on their feet, and at the sight of dancers, they started cheering. Clad in shiny black pants and, a black shirt with a hood, Navio’s gigantic feature emerged from the back of the stage and the crowd couldn’t hold themselves together, giving him a standing ovation.
He started his first session with Bugumu before jumping on Nekolela gyange. Nawuliranga and Hammadi. He then did Dream with Lyrical G before proceeding with One and Only, Kata, and Ngalo alongside the Mith.
It was only at this point that the crowd in all sections remembered to sit down while those in the VVIP continued chanting ‘Ngalo’.
Navio returned after Nina Roz’s brief performance for his second session with Njogereza clad in a Kanzu and a coat before inviting Lillian Mbabazi to do their Survivor song. What followed that was pure artistry as Navio did a freestyle while Lillian was performing ‘Where You Are’. You could think it was a remix.
With a big catalog, there was no way he was going to perform all the songs. In fact, he had earlier admitted in an interview with sQoop that they were literally fighting with his team on which 27 songs he was going to perform on the day. Some of his other songs were played by deejays.
The other songs he did include ‘Ndi Mukodo’, ‘Rare’ with Shina Sky, ‘Whistle Song’ ‘Mr DJ’ with Viboyo and Vampino, ‘Fly’ with Mith, ‘Mwana Weka’ with Flex D’Pepper and ‘Omu ku Omu’ with Young Mulo.
As he had promised earlier on, Navio performed on a live band for the first two sessions before he went on a CD in the last two.
The show ended 40 minutes to midnight and the the information we received was that according to the programme, Navio and Bobi Wine were supposed to do their Bad Man from Kamwokya hit as the last act but security couldn’t let it happen.
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