East African Business Week (Kampala)
Aggrey Nshekanabo
15 November 2009
Zain Uganda is reported to have injected close to $2.5m in the R. Kelly "I believe" concert that will rock the whole of East Africa come 29, January 2009 at the Kampala's Lugogo indoor stadium.
It is said that for R. Kelly to hold any concert anywhere on this planet outside America, $600,000 must be on the table. Well, Fred Masadde, the External Relations Manager at Zain refused to be drawn into the figures.
"How much we have put into the concert is not the issue. What is important is, this "I believe concert" will rock the whole of East Africa and it will be a concert that will be legendary," Masadde said.
At the media launch of the "I believe Concert" last week at Club Silk, Ceasar Mloka, Zain Uganda's Marketing Director, said R Kelly's performance will be an awe-inspiring affair with Zain Uganda which experience will last for life.
"We are proud to be bringing R. Kelly for the first time in the region, a man who has been at the top of the industry for over two decades. We are also proud to be the number one telecom company in the region which R. Kelly accepted to associate with. We are raising the bar that high because we believe our customers deserve to be entertained by the best in the industry," Mloka said.
The first mobile operator in Uganda and the first to launch 'one network' seamless facility across 23 countries has so far brought in two other mega stars Akon and later Wyclef Jean.
According to Levi Nyakundi, Zain Uganda Marketing Manager said that Zain customers will also win over $50,000 dollar prizes prior to the concert as they choose which artistes they would wish to see perform alongside R. Kelly.
"We expect about 40,000 people to be at this R. Kelly concert but also we are giving our customers about $500 cash prizes everyday till the 29th of January, 2009. We shall let our customers decide only 5 Ugandan artistes to share the same stage with R. Kelly and those to choose from include; Bebe Cool, Chameleone, GNL Zamba, Radio & Weasel, Peter Miles & Menshan, Iryn Namubiru, Cindy, Obsessions, Toniks, Grace Nakimera, Aziz Azion and Lady Mariam," Nyakundi revealed.
This will be the first time for R. Kelly to hold a concert performance in East Africa. He has however performed in South Africa and is regarded as a cross-over artiste where his music is accepted across generations and across genres.
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Wow that guy is a true legend when he came to south africa all his tour was sold out, after mj it must be him.