Bell ObaFest is set to be a monumental celebration of East African cuisine, music, and culture that brings people together to savour the region’s unique flavour, sounds, and traditions from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan, the organisers have said.
With this, the first edition that happened Sunday at Jahazi Pier Munyonyo met most of the above, especially the sounds and unity of the East African community.
Revelers were from different cultures. Some were from South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania with most being Ugandans.
The Bell Lager-sponsored event had a different set up with two stages; one for the deejays and the band while the main one right at the shore of the lake was for the performers and some deejays. The other hospitality tents had several drinks and well-decorated stalls showcasing African craft, food and fashion from different countries.
Several activities, including games, music from different deejays took most of the day until Joshua Baraka opened the performances at 5pm doing songs mainly off his first album. But it was Nana that got the crowd cheering him on.
Mun G and Kenya’s Bensoul performed after. Bensoul thrilled with his performance although not many knew his music well going by the fact that the audience comprised many Ugandans.
Spice Diana then happened. She was the longest on stage and sang on a live band doing her original compositions and covers from Bobi Wine, Goodlyf among others.
Kenya’s Nyashinski was the next act on stage. After the set up and mic check that lasted about ten minutes, he came through. His band was seemingly tight, the guitarist was at his best and kept coming in front to display his skills. The former Kleptomaniacs artiste was on stage for about 20 minutes, doing songs like Free, Mungu Pekee, Hapo Tu, Tuwendele, Bebi Bebi, Properly and Malaika that the crowd was more famous with. His sound was not clear enough but he pulled it off.
Fik Fameica’s was perhaps one of the best performers for the day. His session didn’t last more than 15 minutes but his CD playback performance on every song he did kept the revelers on their feet.
Azawi was the second last act on the stage. Clearly she was exhausted. From her performance at Serena on Friday, flight to Rwanda for the Trace awards on Saturday where she also performed and then back to Uganda to perform at the Obafest should have left the Swangz Avenue artiste fatigued but she put up a great performance.
Before Harmonize could step on stage, Tanzania’s Elijah Kitaka performed one song. The sound issue was sorted and going by his performance, it was the right decision for Harmonize to close the show.
His performance was seemingly personal and engaging, often asking the crowd how they were, telling them how he loves them and even went ahead to say the only Ugandan woman she would date was Winnie Nwagi. His time on stage lasted more than 20 minutes but more than half of the crowd had retired. They had watched enough for the night. Harmonize left the stage at 1am.
Sammy Wetala, Miss Deedan, Dagy Nyce, and Viana Indi were the emcees for the night while Lynda Ddane, Selector Jay were among the deejays. It was however, SlickStuart’s session that got everyone on their feet and so did Roja.
Grace Amme, the Bell Lager brand manager, said, “ObaFest is a demonstration of African optimism, and we are using this platform to shine a spotlight on our rich and vibrant East African culture through music and of course – beer – as elements that bring us closer to each other.”
