Nigel M. Nassar
20 September 2005
Juliana Kanyomozi is proving to be more than just a musician, thanks to her producer Steve Jean. If you were part of the crowd that turned up for her 8-track Nabikoowa album launch at the Didi's World Auditorium on Friday, you would know what I am talking about. Little wonder that her profile in the four-paged handout that fans received at the entrance branded her the 'phenomenal woman.'
There was no CD auctioning as usually is the case with other launches, an indication that money wasn't her problem. All the CDs at the entrance sold out at Shs15,000 each. Tycoons, Juma Seiko and Charlie Lubega also gave Juliana a Shs1m each, according to her public thanking.
That is minus the proceeds from the two concerts; the Friday Platinum Concert at Didi's and the Sunday Resort Beach concert in Entebbe whose attendance was also overwhelming. If the emcee's announcement that Club gave her Shs100m to organise the launch is something to go by, Juliana is now a rich girl. After all, we haven't yet known how much MTN gave her.
It was more than just an album launch but a merrymaking event with a showcase of class, image and style, and revellers that mainly comprised those names that matter in the social circles.
Guests leisurely walked in to the auditorium one-after-another to witness the big do. One felt Juliana's omnipresence of some sort, as the entire scene was decorated with her face spotlighted by MTN and Club logos and colours since they were the main sponsors.
Time was managed quite well, as the event didn't stretch long and drive away revellers. Emcee Jkazoora of KFM set the ball rolling at about 8 p.m, with the KOMBAT queen dancers bopping all over him to an MTN jingo tune. The 1000-seater auditorium had only about 40 empty seats. Despite the rains that could have put off many, people turned up in big numbers.
Celebrated musicians did the curtain raising for the first two hours. Kid Fox was first on stage with his hit Love is a Good Feeling. Others included Sophie Gombya, Peter Miles and Menshan, Titi, Vampos, and Blu*3.
Bobi Wine made a fashion statement when he appeared in white attire right from the shoes to an un-tucked in shirt with a necktie.
Mesach Semakula also had his share of applause from the concertgoers as he sang Kankutendereze.
Vibe Sounds almost messed up a perfectly organised function, as the music CDs kept skipping during the curtain raisers' performances.
Then there came a moment of silence. The lights went dim and the curtains were drawn. The Nabikoowa melody finally loomed the room, flanked by smoke that blurred the stage.
Juliana appeared before a magnificent silver stage.
In the background were the Kijiji Band members; a pianist, drummer and guitarist, all the way from Nairobi.
They did the harmonising behind the Nabikoowa melody as the songbird made a grand appearance in a black leather outfit. The crowd cheered, sang along, and danced in their seats as she performed Say It, featuring Vampos and backed by the KOMBAT dancers.
Mama Mbiire, her duet with Bobi Wine, introduced the crowd to Mrs Catherine Manyindo, Juliana's mother.
The star then changed clothes and reappeared in a cream dinner dress, looking for a man from the crowd to receive her gift of endearment. The search landed her a hunk upon whom she sprinkled the love-laden lyrics of Toba na Kutya, the fourth track on the album.
Juliana also performed Mariah Carrey's Hero and Can't Live Without You, a flashback to her days as a young musician doing karaoke at Sabrina's Pub.
Jkazoora branded the event 'a night forwomen emancipation,' as Nabikoowa suggests a woman who is fed up of her man and now telling him off.
Blu*3 backed her up as she did Don't Wanna Cry, the latest of the three English songs on the album.
Fans came to the front to give Juliana money as she did Nabikoowa, the night's last song where she was backed by the KOMBAT dancers.Others signed autographs as they bid fans farewell.
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