By Our Reporter
2nd November 2018 won’t be like any other day in the calendar. In the books of history, it will be the day when the Club Beer-sponsored Kirya Live 2018 sold out, just like the other past Kirya Live editions.
The clock was ticking towards 9pm, and on the floor people were literally fighting for space to have a glimpse of their star – Maurice Kirya, the King of Mwooyo. Upcoming acts like Shifah Musisi, Afrie, JC Muyonjo and Body of Brian had warmed up the stage. It was the right temperature for a man who’s melted hearts with his voice.
“Ssebo Headmaster…” a familiar voice seared through the Victoria Hall, Kampala Serena Hotel. “Maurice!” Hundreds of fans shouted as they paced towards the stage, a phone in a hand and excitement on their faces.
Maurice Kirya stepped on stage to officially kickstart his highly-anticipated Kirya Live 2018 edition.
A head sock perched on his head, stylish dark glasses with a golden tint and a yellow jumper, backed with an army of talented instrumentalists, he kicked off the show with ‘Headmaster’ off his Free Dreams album. What ensued thereafter was an unstoppable train of an exhilarating performance that will stay in people’s minds for a while.
Fenon had done a decent job and the shimmering lights cut through the audience like a Samurai. The VIP section was packed to the rafters with Kirya’s diehard fans and they hanged onto every song he pelted.
Song after song, his fans sang along. Lyrics spilling out of their mouths with ease. He took them on a brief detour back the memory lane and performed classics like Misubbawa. Maurice’s creative candle hardly burns out. And it was lit for the entire show. He kept on leapfrogging from song to song off his past albums and, the audience sang along to every song, on top of their voices. He performed Heart Back from his Free Dreams album and his fans, mainly ladies, made a beeline and literally handed over their hearts. ‘Crippin’ drove the audience ‘Insane’.
He would later join the audience as he performed his emotive Mulembe Gwa Kirya song. Girls, now shouting themselves hoarse, raced to the front and took a plethora of selfies with their star. “…children will rise, taller than the mountains…” he sang and, his fans, indeed rose taller than the mountains and hungrily wanted a slice of the crooner.
10:30pm.
Every space was literally occupied. The floor was teeming of people dancing and singing to Kirya’s songs. “Next year, I want to do it differently,” he said, pausing the show for a brief speech. “I want to help young talents, to give them a platform like this one. So, next year, we shall have a festival,” he added, amidst thunderous chanting from the audience.
The clock ticked on, so did the show. A few minutes past 11pm, he sang his popular gospel ballad, Nze Ani that not only took people to church, but closed the show as well. He left his ardent fans yearning for more of him, more of his songs.
