Red Banton. Do you remember the name? How about Mesach Semakula? Or Bella? King Michael? Gift of Kaddo? Henry Tigan? Anyone?
Hint, 20 years ago, there was no music without this lot. And then, they all showed up in one room. For one cause. To entertain the three thousand or so fans who turned up for the sixth edition of the annual Slick Stuart and Roja Uganda Waragi sponsored Mixtape Party.
Red Banton, born Tony Lubega, rose to fame two decades ago with the hit song Noonya Money. On Friday, November 8, adoring fans, most not yet born when Red Banton was a household name, sang along to the song that still resonates with Ugandans to date.
Semakula, Bella, King Michael, Kaddo, Tigan reminded the fans of what real music was like with Sigwe Ansimila, Fassi, Muko Muko, Traffic Man Officer and Lwakyi Oninza respectively.
And that was not the only surprise at the party that has since built a cult following over six years.
BET award winner Eddy Kenzo, dished out almost Shs1,000,000 to the fans during his performance that started at around 11.39 pm with Sitya Loss, He went on to energetically, albeit emotionally perform several other songs including Inabana, Super Power, Bibaawo as DeeJay Mercy Pro worked the decks.
Mercy Pro also helped hype the remarkable performances of Pallaso, Big Trill Parte after Parte, Bad Gyal), Fik Fameika (Mafia, Ndi Wanjawulo) and crowd favourite Fefe Busi – who freestyled before curtains fell at midnight to introduce a new set for Stuart and Roja.
The dynamic duo suffered a slight technical glitch, which while being reckfied left the audience agitated.
But once sorted, two minutes later, they kicked off with Keri Hilson’s Knock You Down, before embarking on some of their productions such as Sunday and Wello Wello featuring Allan Tonix and King Saha.
Bebe Cool, Spice Diana, Winnie Nwagi all graced the stage with a song or two each during the one hour that the two deejays literally killed their fans.
Before that, deejays Emma, Lola (local) Fem Deejay (rave), DJ Ciza, and the ever green Selector J, who proved he is still a crowd darling took revellers, took on a musical journey that might just be the event of the year.
In between, partiers, who sipped on Uganda Waragi Cocktails and Bell Beer, enjoyed performances by Ethan, VIP Jemo, Choosen Blood, Exodus, and Levixone.
