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Uganda: Akon Trailed
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The Monitor (Kampala)
16 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Rafsanjan Abbey Tatya
Finally Akon came; he talked to Ugandans and even hit the stage over the weekend. But the great show Akon put up wasn't all there was about the singer's visit.
In fact, he managed to stir up a bit of controversy from the time he arrived at the airport all the way to Club Sway to the press conference at Celtel House the next, at Serena Hotel and at Lugogo Cricket Oval where his concert was held.
First, the black prince hesitated to disembark the private jet at Entebbe Airport when he saw journalists waiting on the tarmac, but he eventually came out because there was no other option for him.
We learnt about his phobia for the press during the press conference the following day, when he admitted that he has "a very big problem" with journalists because they don't get facts first before writing about him.
He even refused to speak to any pressman at the airport though photographers took his photos. Waiting from outside the VIP lounge was Suzan Owori, a girl who has always claimed to know Akon on a personal level. And if you thought she was lying then better think again because the Senegalese star looked smitten when he saw the Ugandan babe who is also the sister to fashion designer Silvia Owori.
Silvia Owori, above, with Akon. She is said to have arrived at Sway with a horde of beautiful girls to give Akon and his entourage company.
However, Suzan had to keep a sharp eye on Akon at Sway because her sister came in with a horde of beautiful girls to keep Akon and his entourage company.
Akon seemed moved by one of the babes who exposed her boobs like she was here for his next video shoot. In the club everybody struggled to have a piece of the superstar and even our local star Jose Chameleone showed that he was nowhere above the star-struck syndrome and he even glued on Akon's hands with a lot of excitement.
After the club, Akon's convoy including two Super Custom vans full of babes that had earlier come in with Sylvia Owori headed to Serena Hotel, but we can't confirm what went on at the hotel.
Then on Friday, at Celtel House, the "ex-convict" addressed a press conference. First off, Akon offended a journalist who asked him if he had a problem with Africa. He first asked the journalist if he was an "idiot" and then said, "Why would I have a problem with Africa when I'm an African..."
Other journalists applauded a visibly angry Akon as he lashed out at the journalist. After the hot and interesting press conference Akon went to Serena for prayers, this being a Friday. However, there were three Rwandan babes waiting for him at the hotel.
The girls only managed to say 'hi' to him and security barred them from going beyond the entrance of the elevator which showed "out of service" soon as the star entered it.
In the evening the star was hard to access as his security shielded him from all intruders in his tent at the cricket oval in Lugogo. The Rwandan babes still stalked him at the concert but there was just no way for them to reach him.
After performing, many girls asked to meet the star for photo opportunities but his security told them that Akon had to leave immediately because he wasn't feeling well.
"He is hungry and needs to eat now but he will meet all of you tomorrow," said one of his security personnel.
And so the Rwanda trio insisted on meeting Akon even the next day when he was leaving for Entebbe.
Unfortunately as they chased the artiste's convoy en route to Entebbe their RAV4 broke down at Kisubi and that was the end of their story.
Meanwhile, many things went on at the concert and tycoon Sudhir Rupaleria's son Rajiv who was involved in a fight and even lost his expensive phone during the scuffle.
There was a guy who successfully made his way to the stage and even hugged Akon as he performed, going ahead to tip him with a Shs10,000, which Akon threw to the audience.
Akon ordered the bouncers not to rough up the "convict as he was just trying to show a brother some love," and even dedicated a song to him, but NTV's Hot Steps host Charles Myiyeretsi got the opposite treatment when he tried to make to the stage and a bouncer violently flung him to another bouncer who 'disciplined' him.
For the performances, Chameleone and Bebe Cool looked nervous; probably because they wanted to please Akon who was listening to their music as he has a new record label targeting promoting African artistes where Nigeria's 2Face Idibia is the first beneficiary.
Akon's DJ Benny D was far a better entertainer than both Ugandan musicians at this concert as he engaged the crowd with his witty remarks as he played the music. .
Society photographer Natty Dread managed to get onto the Akon convoy and you could mistake him for part of Akon's entourage if you hadn't known him earlier. He was the only Ugandan pacing the stage as Akon performed and word is that he asked Akon to include him on his entourage for African tours to take photos. Akon said yes and now Natty is telling everybody how he is the official photographer for Akon in Africa.
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But is he the only one with a story to tell about Akon? Nope, several other Ugandans at least have a story to tell as far as Akon is concerned.
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