Ndere Cultural Centre came alive on Saturday, September 12, as musician Kenneth Mugabi celebrated 10 years of his Kibun'omu album and his birthday with a career-spanning concert supported by V&A Sherry.
The evening opened with the Uganda, Buganda and Busoga anthems, followed by a tribute to Tooro's late King Oyo. The tribute left many in the audience emotional, with revellers raising their phones as they honoured the late king's life and legacy.
Cultural dancers set the mood before Mugabi took to the stage with People of the Land, drawing loud cheers from the audience. He followed with popular songs including Mumbejja, Abamuzibe and Aka Number, with fans singing along to much of the set. A choreographed performance of My Woman added a theatrical touch to the show.
The mood shifted when Mugabi picked up his Endingidi, taking the audience through songs such as Nambi, People of the Land and Ijondarire. The traditional instrument marked another phase of the performance as he blended his contemporary sound with Uganda's traditional musical heritage.
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Mugabi later slowed down the show to remember his late mother, performing a spoken word piece set to music. "Today being my birthday, I want to honor my late mother. She supported me and believed in my dream, so to honour her I wrote this poem for her," he said.
The evening also featured performances from Eduardo Kayondo, Eli Songs and Nuel Murungi, with host Richard Tuwangye providing comic relief between performances. Mugabi later returned to the stage for Kibun'omu, leaving the song largely to the audience, who sang along from beginning to end.
Tanzanian-Ugandan artiste Mad Ice was among the surprise guests, performing Nkwagala Nyo Mukwano. Naava Grey followed to a loud reception, performing Nteredde and Ninga Omuloge before joining Mugabi for their collaboration, Owuwo.
Grey later turned the performance into a birthday celebration, inviting four fans onto the stage to help cut Mugabi's cake.
"This was a perfect way to close my week. I am here enjoying my favourite artists' songs and I couldn't be happier," said Specioza Nambi, one of the revellers.
Away from the stage, guests took photographs at the V&A Sherry backdrop while enjoying the sherry liqueur and its cocktails.
Roy Ronald Tumwizere, the V&A Brand Manager at UBL, said the brand supported Mugabi because of the values reflected in his music.
"As V&A, we chose to support Kenneth Mugabi because his music aligns with the values we hold so dear -- love and shared moments. So supporting him came naturally for us," he said.
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Mugabi later thanked V&A and the other sponsors for supporting his musical journey.
Beyond the entertainment, Mugabi's music also carried messages on issues including sustainability, safe sex, education, literacy and positive social values.
For the finale, Mugabi returned to the stage with Naki, Sanyu, Muvubuka, Underwraps and Nkwegomba. The audience danced and sang along to the songs, with phones raised as the energy at Ndere Cultural Centre remained high until the end.
By the time Mugabi left the stage, the audience had danced itself tired, but the response suggested many would have stayed for longer. It was a celebration in which the songs became more than a performance, they became shared memories between the artiste and his audience.
