A precise black gold night

Jackie Akello, the woman behind this night says it is dedicated to World Music. It features different artistes mainly from the world music genre. It happens every last Wednesday of the month. This week’s was the third of its kind. So far, the audience has been small but Akello is optimistic that it is growing and hopes that it will get bigger and better.

This Wednesday’s Black Gold Night show is exactly how weekday concerts ought to be, brief, concise and precise. That’s exactly what the show graced by Qwela, Nandujja and the Planets, Maraka Band and a member of Magic Hornz was.

The sparsely filled venue was first treated to instrumentals by Maraka Band before their singers took to stage. And when they did, they took us to the central and western Uganda with songs like Nbakowola (Luganda word for I call upon you) and an interesting song Njura (Rutoro word for rain).

Njura was the best way for the band to climax given it’s danceable tunes. But what put a dent in the climax were the dancers of the Tooro traditional dance ntogoro. It’s not that they didn’t know the foot work, it is that they “insulted” us with their outfits.

Dressed like revellers who just decided to take to the stage in a moment of enjoyment, they made quite the odd pair, making it a bit uncomfortable for us to watch. The presence of Nandujja and her team, who were dressed in proper traditional dance costumes, just highlighted the duo’s shortcomings. They should have pretended to be part of the audience.

This moment of awkwardness was pierced and vanquished by Nandujja’s high pitched voice, with that “ggono” which sent the good kind of goose bumps up some of our arms. With the mixture of Ganda culture traditional sounds from the variety of drums, xylophone and calabashes, the stage came alive with a team of five ladies and a gentleman, wriggling their waists like they were boneless as they danced the Bakisimba and followed it with Mawogola.

Amazed, those with smart phones pulled them out to capture the dancers as others clapped or ululated, cheering them on. Nandujja and the Planets made the rather chilly night, a little warmer .

And just so audience didn’t walk away without a lesson, in her songs Ndabada and Abakyala n’Abaami and a creative dance, she cautioned people to dress up decently with their age in mind, asked men to be the providers they are meant to be and also for people to make sure they keep the fire burning in their marriages.

All this, using innuendos that sent those with a good grip of Luganda in roars of laughter.
With the audience filled with mirth, the Planets left the stage. In between, Qwela took to the stage next and like Joe Kahimbirinye, their band leader said, it was intimidating to have to perform after an electrifying show by Nandujja and the planets so all they were going to do was try to entertain the audience.

But they did more than try. Starting off with an instrumental, Star Taffa they eased the audience into their performance, following it with Ingaha and letting the audience join them in “Bbe”.

They managed to get people out of their seats to try out a few dance moves.
And in true climax form, Nandujja and the Planets came back and ended the night with the Mbaga dance.

It was good show that was on point in more ways than one and it was unfortunate that only a few people got to enjoy it.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com