On Saturday, August 5, 2023, the long awaited Afrigo band concert dubbed Legends of Sound left thousands of its fans who had flocked to the Sheraton Gardens, disappointed. This left most regretting why they had paid such amounts of money after the show failed to meet their expectations.
The mastermind, manager, and experienced producer of the music concert, Aly Aliibhai, who is also the CEO of Talent Africa, seemed unprepared for such a big event that he seemed to be overwhelmed.
Revellers had already started pouring into the venue as early as 3:00 p.m. to attend the concert, which saw the legendary Congolese Lingala artist Awilo Longoba fly into the country for the long-anticipated show.
By Thursday, August 3, 3023, the gold (5m a table for 8 people) and silver tickets at Shs 150,000 were already sold out and those who went to buy them were told that the place for this particular class of people was small and could not accommodate any more chairs. Hence opting for the bronze (or ordinary tickets) at Shs 75,000
Additionally, there were no seats in the ordinary section before the event even began, so people sat on the grass, while others borrowed plastic crates from the beer and drink vendors to wait for the show to begin.
However, after some hours, a vehicle carrying plastic chairs arrived at the other side of the Sheraton Gardens, and to the fans dismay, each plastic chair cost Shs. 10,000.
“Ehhhh, this means that this show has cost me eighty five thousand shillings (Shs. 85.000),” a reveler was heard complaining.
As the highly anticipated show kicked off, a wave of excitement filled the air. However, there was a slight hiccup – the screens that were meant to enhance the experience for those further away from the stage seemed to have a mind of their own. But hey, this is Uganda we’re talking about, a country renowned for its vibrant party culture. Undeterred by the technical glitch, the crowd unleashed their inner dance enthusiasts, grooving to the infectious beats while playfully voicing their playful complaints.
To make matters worse, the sound quality was abysmal, leaving the audience yearning for more. Even when the legendary Awilo, who had vowed to deliver an unforgettable musical extravaganza to the people of Uganda, appeared on the stage. The energy and fire he brought to the crowd were not the kind he always brings to the crowd.
Although Ragga Dee, Messach Ssemakula raised the curtain for the Afrigo band, who appeared on stage amidst fireworks. Awilo was later ushered brought on stage. The Afrigo band came on stage for a second time, and the legendary music doctor Jose Chameleone crowned the show, which ended at around midnight.
