Go be that celebrity...

The other day, I saw my favourite actor jumping on a boda. I did not know what to do at that point. Yell to stop him and then volunteer to give him a ride? Follow him and scold him? One thing I was sure of is, I was really angry.

Could Denzel Washington have jumped on a boda in Ntinda just like that? Tell me. Seriously, do you see Idris Elba hailing some random boda boda by the market near your locale? For a minute, just paint a picture of that celebrity you religiously follow on social media in the above scenarios. I felt cheated that day as a fan. For all Mr Actor’s nice clothes that day and his amazing talent, he needed no less than celebrity pomp. And I do not want to hear that “down to earth” talk, do not even think about it. I want my stars to be stars. Period!

As I vented, my friend Angela broke it to me, “What would they be slaying when there is no money in the wallet to speak of.” According to her, fake it till you make it, just won’t cut it here. But then again, whose problem is it that our stars in the arts are not accorded the same celebrity status as those abroad or even in West Africa.

“It is all in our perception,” that is how another friend Faith put it. We don’t have the culture of celebrating the arts or ourselves, so much that the artistes themselves don’t bother to put themselves on a pedestal befitting one of their talent.
Heck if we cared so much, we could actually pay for their craft and this no doubt would enable them have the highflying lifestyle we see in Holly Wood. They must help us to help them; this is what another friend Claire believes.

“What good is it for instance, to follow someone on social media when they don’t go beyond their craft to impress? Do something exciting, inspire me in some way, do something crazy. You must tickle my fancy either with your exceptional talent or lifestyle.
I just need to be inspired enough to seek you,” she says. Ugandan films are not on top of her to watch list unfortunately, because the opportunity to watch them never comes her way. (whose fault is that?).

In the last couple of years, the performing arts like film and poetry have really pushed themselves to produce great work. I just do not get what more Ugandans need to support these artistes. Attending the shows is one thing, but then treating them like stars is another. That is a rant for another day, for today I’m upset with stars who do not treat themselves as such. I do not want to see you busy chewing gnuts at the nearby kiosk in some random place after indulging in a film where you nailed it. A little mystery and intrigue about your life would suit me as a fan. No one ever frowned over Hollywood and Nollywood living the splendour that showbiz exudes, so why should our local stars sell themselves short?

Those in the music business have managed to place themselves high up there, but why do those in the arts embrace meekness that just does not suit the stars they aspire to be. I crave for some glitz and glamour in UgaWood and I bet many a fan would die to wake up and follow some interesting detail of the lives of these artists. That said, I’m going to hang around that market more and see if I will spot Mr Actor, I must grab me a selfie if only to reassure him that he is a celebrity.