By Nimusiima
Uganda, besides life-wrenching endemics, corruption, embezzlement of innocent public funds, poor infrastructure, nepotism, failed systems, limping health system, struggling sports, politics that make the gods cringe in exasperation and many other things, has experienced countless flopped concerts.
Here is the rub: greedy music promoters ship struggling artistes in the country with anticipation that, perhaps, they will draw myriads of people because they have a hit or two, but, sadly, they don’t deliver up to expectation. They flop. Badly. Shamefully. It is sickening, this hogwash thing. Sickening and silly. This is a wakeup call that Ugandans are weary, knackered and tired of mediocrity exhibited by the said parties. Allow me pour scorn on it, will you?
We are tired of struggling Jamaican artistes with a smidgen of hits that, unbeknownst to us, leapfrog in here on a daily. Who knows, these chaps could be harboring other intentions that are not music related, like, say, exercising their conjugal duties. Look, these artistes might appeal to a particular social class, predominantly the youth who perhaps have curfew, gone back to school, or are broke as a church mouse and can’t afford the ticket. Thus the damned concert is deemed a flop. And where is the beauty in dancing around same artistes? Demarco, Shaggy, Busy Signal, Konshens and the latest being Chris Martin who literally performed to a pile of bored empty chairs, bouncers and the technical team. Well, news wafting from the show say that he refused to perform because, well, why would a sane person perform to countless pieces of plastic?
See, this mirrors nothing, but the brutal fact that Ugandans, who love to party and have fun, are taken for a ride. Are Jamaican artistes the only cheap import you could land your bare hands on? As other countries are tapping American global icons, from Chris Brown to Coldplay, Uganda is left to settle for morsels that are Jamaican artistes who are probably struggling with their craft in their country. They could be having good music up their sleeves, yes, but what happened to balanced diet? What happened to stretching your pudgy hands and dragging other artistes to Uganda? Well, they are pricey, you say, but if the trade is insanely expensive, why don’t you go back in the village and rear butterflies?
Other reasons one could point a finger at are poor advertising, perhaps. I mean, who knew that Chris Martin was coming to Uganda, anyone? Besides the promoter, Chris Martin himself and Freedom City team, I bet my toe, a handful of folks knew about the show. Why then wouldn’t you publicize the show, widely, extensively so that you create awareness that, yes, Chris Martin is coming soon to add on the fun we are already having with ourselves. Mr. Promoter, you didn’t. And, furthermore, Mr. Promoter, you shot your own foot with a rifle. I want to think you are blaming anyone, or the journey. I want to think you are blaming the weather or the gods for the failed show. And, I want to think, Mr. Promoter, that you went back on the drawing board to make Uganda a better place to live in as you, perhaps, drag other global music icons besides the struggling souls from Kingston which is an act of taking Ugandans for a ride. Take that to the bank, Mr. Promoter!