Abbey Rafsanjan Tatya & Darius Mugisha
14 March 2008
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Our heads have been working overtime, praying for this concert. And finally, we are glad to announce that African-American hip-hop darling Akon is to perform...
Before you cheer this, it is a heady mix of excitement and sadness because the Konvict boss will, for the second time, snub Uganda when he performs in the neighbouring Kenya tomorrow and Sunday.
Akon is set to perform at the Carnivore in Nairobi on March 16. However, he will first meet and even lecture the Tusker Project Fame contestants in Nairobi tomorrow.
That means that Ugandan TPFII hopefuls, who will be in Nairobi for health check-ups this week, can meet Akon who arrives in Kenya today.
24-Seven also understands that the Akon Uganda concert is still in balance, however, Ugandans can still watch him perform at the Carnivore for Shs100,000 while VIP is Shs300,000. The show starts at 7p.m. and Akon will be on stage at 10p.m.
Uganda's own film awards
Is there something you'd like to tell us Mr Remmy Lubega? Like whether there's a new girl who has joined the Obsessions after the departure of Brenda, Mya and Helen?
Hmmm, we knew - you would rather talk about your new idea of starting up the film awards event in the country! Well, we will still give you audience given the fact that it will be the very first event where Ugandan film men and women hit the red carpet as they collect accolades for their contribution to the big screen.
Folks, join us in congratulating the Obsessions' manager Lubega for starting up what he has called Lutambi Film Festival (Luff). Excited? Well, the opening event is in June this year and Lubega said the event will be the "Ugandan Oscars" with filmmakers winning awards in different categories. Luff will be an annual event.
Mya replaces Cindy
In the world of showbiz, there are two kinds of celebs. The have-beens, and the will-bes. So in this case, Cindy has been but now Mya will be, a Blu*3 member that is!
Barely two months after we told you of Edith Baganda a.k.a Mya's departure from Kombat to Obsessions, she is on the move again and this time to Blu*3.
You know, Cindy has shifted her hunting grounds to the US and because manager Steve Jean's idea is a three-member Blu*3, he has decided to replace her with Mya, a dancer he has admired for several years.
Steve said he doesn't know what Cindy is doing in the US and he doesn't think she'll return to the group but "Mya is a perfect replacement."
Actually, Mya has been undergoing intensive training by Steve, and luckily, we were part of the audience that watched her debut performance with Jackie and Lillian on Women's Day at Club Rouge. She looked gorgeous on stage and her dance moves were perfect but her voice couldn't make up for Cindy's absence. That just explains how much work Steve has to turn her into a crooner.
UBC TV 2 starts next month
When your business fails to appeal across all age groups, what do you do? It's what we are trying to find out in UBC TV's case.
The recently revamped station has failed to shake-off its UTV image that people, especially the teenagers relate it with - but what would be the solution? Well, we know your answer but it still won't influence the UBC management's opinion because they have already decided to open a second UBC TV channel to focus on sports and general entertainment. It goes on air next month and they have promised the teenagers and middle aged people the best of what they fancy.
So are we going to work there too? A big NO because we don't want our CVs to read like a travel brochure. However, JKazoora and Doreen Kayongo both formerly of WBS TV don't mind and will join the new station. Kazoora will host a music show and Kayongo will do a fashion/entertainment show. Good luck, people.
Hon Amama needs a driver
We've heard quite enough about security minister Hon Amama Mbabazi's excellent driving skills, but with all those state duties weighing him down, he should simply let somebody else chauffer him around like it has always been.
Last Monday, we watched Mr Mbabazi drive through the heavy lunchtime traffic jam from his Kololo mansion to Serena Hotel. Cruising a white Lexus, registration number UAG 786W, Mr Mbabazi was in the company of an escort dressed in army fatigue in the co-driver's seat and also had a pick-up truck full of soldiers driving right behind him.
The escort pickup driver kept sounding out a siren but considering that he was driving behind Amama's Lexus, no body cared to give way to a regular vehicle. Just wondering if the government is so mean as to deny a key figure like Mr Mbabazi a chauffer!
For heavens sake, he has a lot to do and he kept making and receiving phone calls while driving. Besides the danger that comes with speaking on phone while driving, think about the humiliation that would have arisen if Hon Amama had been arrested by one of those 'disrespectful' traffic cops for driving while on phone!
Clarification
On March 29, 24/7 reported that MTN failed to fulfil their promise of getting UB40 to the platinum wing after the concert, where platinum guests would have a moment with UB40 as well as a photo opportunity. 24/7 also reported that MTN's Phillip Besimiire called Uganda Cricket Association Organising secretary Davis Turinawe asking if the revered turf could be used to accommodate more people and was finally allowed to use it but at a cost.
Besiimire has however in a recent email stated that Platinum guests were entitled to an after party - and this happened till late. He says that MTN did not promise any "meet-and-greet" session to its guests. He further stated that the incident of him calling the cricket association did not take place at all.
Bebe Cool's aide disappears in Sweden
Several Ugandan musicians have travelled for concerts abroad with their aides and protégés, but Bebe Cool might have to revise this whole idea, before it lands him in hot soup.
Some time last year, he travelled for the MOBO awards in the United Kingdom with former ally Dizzy Nutts, only for the latter to disappear without Bebe Cool's knowledge. This time round, Bebe travelled to Sweden with vocalist Tick Tah (formerly of Chameleone's Leone Island Crew) as well as his bouncer/aide only identified as Dauda. Apparently, on arrival to Sweden, Dauda started behaving 'funny' and it wasn't long before Bebe couldn't trace his whereabouts.
As Bebe arranged to call the police, he received a phone call from Dauda thanking him for having made his dream come true. Bebe Cool returned from Sweden all alone sometime last week, not even with Tick Tah, though one of Tick Tah's relatives said Tick Tah is still holding a few more shows and will be back towards the end of this month.
However, a source with knowledge about Dauda's whereabouts told 24-Seven on phone that Dauda crossed to Denmark and he already pitched camp with a certain famous Denmark-based Ugandan boxer "and he is training so heavily," the source added.
Ragga Dee loses Champagne deal
We want to believe Ragga Dee is creative - look at his rhymes - but that is no guarantee that the newly-wed is an all-round creative chap. Club Champagne owner Ice Man has expelled him from the club that he has been managing/renting, accusing him (Ragga Dee) of "lack of creativity" and failure to popularise the club amongst club-goers.
Ragga Dee was sent packing and given 48 hours (from Monday) to vacate the Nasser Road-located club.
And although Ragga Dee was not in the country at the time Ice Man issued the memo, he called his henchmen and they took out all his belongings from the club he had renamed Totos Club.
And now Ice Man is trying to install new equipment before re-launching the club. Whether that's a guarantee to get a big clientele, only time can tell.
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