Adhyambo Odera
3 May 2008
Nairobi — As Kenyan fans continue to curse Senegalese musician Akon for failing to perform in Nairobi twice, Ugandans who initially felt lucky after he promised to perform in Kampala are deeply disappointed. The guy just didn't show up. No. This was not the first time he had stood up Ugandans. You guessed right. It was the second.
Just like he did to his Kenyan fans, Akon failed to perform in Uganda despite grand preparations ahead of his no-show at the Cricket Club Lugogo. By midnight on Thursday, there were still no signs of his plane touching down in Entebbe.
Journalists waited for him at Entebbe Airport in vain. Later, Celtel Uganda marketing director Caesar Mloka called the singer's booking agent in the US and asked to speak to Akon's manager, Big Jah. Only then did Jah tell Mloka that Akon was suffering from Strepflow, eh, a condition that affects the throat.
Tele-conference
A hurried press conference was called on Friday morning - to inform Ugandans that Akon would not be performing, after all.
Mloka called Big Jah and organised a tele-conference so that journalists could hear it for themselves. However, the singer's failure to perform in Kenya even after bookings cropped up all too often during the press conference. Jah blew his top when local journalists compared the scenario to that of Kenya.
"It seems to me that you guys are more concerned about Kenya than Uganda. I'm not going to speak about what happened in Kenya. I'm interested in Uganda. Uganda press should be sure that we are coming and Celtel and promoters will have our travel arrangements. Wednesday 7pm we will touch down," he said.
But why hadn't he said so earlier?
If it is any consolation, Jah said Akon will still be performing in Nairobi "at unknown date". But as he spoke, elements of truth were emerging.
Akon is just sick
"What I am not going to do is speak badly about anyone or Kenya. We're going to do our show in Kenya soon, but it has to be done the right way. I have no problem with what's going on in Uganda; everything has been done correctly and professionally. Akon is just sick," he said. Did he mean some things were not done right here?
Jah even went ahead to praise Uganda and said it was "a perfect place" in the region. "We are working around the clock to ensure the show goes ahead," he added.
According to him, it was pointless to spend $300,000 to fly Akon to Kampala "just for people to see him".
The first time the Senegalese musician let Ugandans down was on April 26. At the time, he pushed the show to early last week. Now, he has pushed it to next.
Among those who were greatly disappointed were pupils of Nakivubo primary school, who had cut short their holidays in the hope of receiving books from the star as part of Celtel's corporate social responsibility. Celtel had organised to work with Akon in the project.
According to Justina Ntabgoba, the Celtel social responsibility manager, the multi-platinum star was to hand out 200 books and two refurbished computers to pupils at the school as part of the firm's campaign to support education.
"There's nothing we can do," Ntabgoba said after the no-show.
Before the book donation ceremony was cancelled, Pande Derrick, 13, had woken up early singing Akon's tune, Lonely, and told his friends that he was going to have a one on one with the star. His pride did not last long when the news spread that Akon, had not landed in Uganda.
"Are you sure he's not around? I wanted to see him and hear him sing for us. He would have made my day," Derrick said.
Another pupil, Naguja Lillian, couldn't sleep when her school was chosen. She had seen Akon on TV and her dream to meet him had turned true too soon.
"I was looking forward to receiving this book from him personally. That would have put in me a positive drive to work extra hard in school. But look, he has refused to come again," she said.
A potential fan, Ssebedeke Joseph chose to stay away from the concert. "I expected it (the disappointment). If he could turn down Kenyans twice, who are we to trust him? I couldn't buy the tickets because I know Akon is full of attitude," he said.
Those who had bought the tickets were confused on whether to ask for a refund or wait until next Friday when Akon is expected to perform at the same venue. Will Akon show up or will his fans be lonely?
We will know in five days.
Preparation at Lugogo Cricket Club had been finalised and the lighting, sound and other technicalities had been taken care of. The curtain raiser for the show, Nigerian musicians P-SQUARE, had arrived two days before the concert and were happy to be part of the big event.
"We are going to give our very best at the event. Akon is a big artiste and the most sought after in the world and Ugandans are lucky to have us all here," said Peter Okoye of P-SQUARE on arrival at Entebbe airport.
Now, he and his colleague will have to stay on till next week to perform alongside Akon, that is if he shows up.
Efforts to contact them at the turn round of events failed as they were said to be held up in meetings with their booking agent, Dave Kazoora.
Among those who had been billed to attend the concert was Buhemuka Alex, winner of Rock Your World promotion. The young man from Mubende District had been flown to Kampala in a helicopter. He was all smiles in his VIP room at the prestigious Kampala Hotel. As the winner, Buhemuka was to live like a star, chauffeured in a limo and interact with Akon till the artiste left Kampala.
"I'm happy I still have another chance to live like a star. I pray that he comes down next week," said Alex.
But now he will have to wait a little longer. Happily, for him, Celtel will foot his bills at the five-star hotel.
But who handles Akon's bookings? According to Jah, Akon's bookings are handled by his recording label, Universal Records and Konvict.
"When you're booking Akon, you look at AKON.com that's the label. When we book shows, we give them the dates and we update it on the site. The same applies to Universal who works with us and informs us of any shows. On our own website which is Konvict.com, we update our own stuff and the Uganda show was updated," he added.
Despite all the excuses given by Akon's manager, there was speculation that his deal with NBC TV, in which he's doing a reality show, had played a big role in the star's delayed or cancelled concerts. The TV show, to be titled "My Brother's Keeper," will follow Akon's brothers as they parade around town posing as the singer and reaping the benefits that come with being a superstar.
The "Smack That" singer claimed to get the idea for the show after seeing fans' reactions whenever they go out in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. "It's a real life thing, which has got really out of hand in Atlanta, so I decided to take the situation and make it into my advantage by making a reality TV show out of it."
Other reports say he had been booked for another show on Sunday in Las Vegas.
But Jah promised to have him in Uganda early Wednesday where he will stay for two days before performing on Friday.
"We have booked our flights and will be in Kampala next week," he said. Just to be sure, Celtel has dispatched its external corporate affairs manager, Fred Massada, to the US to fly back with Akon's crew.
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