Jackie Chandiru, Ali Balunywa and Cinderella Sanyu
Ali Balunywa
The Easter holiday the world over is a long fun filled weekend. Amsterdam was no different from other cities in the world. The long awaited do involving 5 artists from East Africa at last arrived on Sunday 8 April 2012.
Cinderella Sanyu, Jackie Chandiru, Haruna Mubiru (Uganda) and Chege from Tanzania reported for duty. Unfortunately, Knowless Butera from Rwanda could not participate at this point in time because of the Genocide week in Rwanda. Not even our Rwandan comrades who live in the Netherlands attended! It is a period that is highly revered in Rwanda, where entertainment is not part of the programme. The country is in a sombre mood in remembrance of the almost one million Rwandans massacred in 1994!
The venue this time was in Central Amsterdam, at Desmet Studio, Plantage Middenlaan 4A. The concert was supposed to start at 8.00pm, but started 2 hours later. Meanwhile DJ G-Town was mixing music for the revelers. The hall had ambience and the bar sold affordable drinks. Food was in plenty and Amsterdammers seemed happy.
Brixman and Jackie
Our very own Brixman was the chief curtain raiser and he fed us on both his new and old familiar music. He received a standing ovation from the audience. I was quite impressed by the way he had matured musically. He will be a force to reckon with in the not so far future, if he continues at this rate.
Next on the stage was Haruna Mubiru (of the Ekitooke fame) who belted out many of his new numbers and some few old ones most people were conversant with. He was dressed in his typical style of a dark suit without a tie and the Islamic cap that he seems unable to do without! He too received a standing ovation when he bowed for the audience at the end of his performance.
Haruna Mubiru second right on arrival
Chege, the Tanzania was next on the stage. He sang many Kiswahili numbers, but audience had mixed reactions. As an artist, he is very good, has a natural voice and is quite talented, however since most merrymakers were Ugandan, his music was new to most of them. Nevertheless, the Tanzanians in the audience who were familiar with his music sang along with him and applauded him at the end of every number. One Tanzanian lady jumped on the stage and became his queen dancer throughout the performance.
Chege (2nd left) on arrival at Schiphol airport
It was Jackie Chandiru’s turn next. Jackie the crooner is different from Jackie the person. She takes on a different personality while on stage. She sang out her heart, danced and belted out all her hits! The audience was electrified! They took money to her in droves. Most of her numbers were well known to the audience. She had on a tight dress with a train like attachment, which helped her in do her dance strokes like she was in a trance. When she sang “Gold digger”, the crowd went mad as they sang along! She left the audience wanting when she bowed off.
Jackie and Cindy
The final act was by Cinderella Sanyu, like Jackie, formerly of the Blue*3 all girls group. She crooned both her new and old music. Like Jackie’s case, it was also recognizable to the audience and they also sang along, danced along and took to her money. She belted out hit after hit and the audience didn’t disappoint. They shouted and clamoured for more. Unfortunately, the show was meant to end at 2.00am, and not much could be done when the time came.
Celebrated lawyer Caleb Alaka accompanied Jackie Chandiru for the tour and Cindy’s husband Mario Brunetti, the proprietor of Cayenne Restaurant and Lounge in Bukoto Kampala was with her all through. (By the way Mario, I will take you up on that offer when next I am in Kampala!)
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