By Dixon Bond Okello
Despite the millions spent on advertising, marketing, promotions and organising the event, the NBS Owakabi grand finale was a massive flop as only 523 revellers bought tickets. The rest came in with complimentary tickets. This has gone down in history as the biggest flop ever at Resort beach Entebbe.
Some NBS staff, were blaming the Pope’s visit for this, but I strongly believe their Owakabi tours in and around Kampala prior to the Grand finale didn’t appeal much to the public. The MC’s and NBS staff seem to over praise themselves rather than giving back to the society through rewarding and entertaining revellers.
I also think artistes in Uganda have over exposed themselves and the “wow” factor is no longer there. Musicians are supposed to be “stars” and you don’t see stars everyday. But in Kampala the “stars” are all over town, singing daily at presidential campaigns, performing in fake places for little money or just bottles of liquor, getting blind drunk and getting beaten up in pubs.
There is a ‘launch’ almost every weekend, somewhere in Kampala and I think there are too many music shows for such a small city.
Now all this doesn’t make them appealing to very many people. Who wants an autograph from a musician who constantly looks dazed on weed?