09/07/2017
Luo Festival: The Good and The Ugly
Last night, Luo Festival was held at the Carnivore Grounds. Several artists performed to a fully packed venue. This year, the organisers seem to have gotten it right by providing a better organised and truly colourful event.
Bandason did what he does best by giving his fans a test of rumba. Together with the curvaceous Yvonne Shanneyz, they gave fans an amazing performance. She thrilled the crowd with her sensual dance moves that left many men, including Jalang'o ~the brain behind the festival ~ wide mouthed. Too bad she tripped and fell as she left the stage but you can guess she didn't have a problem finding muscles to lift her, literally, to the backstage.
Kaligraph Jones performed for the first time at any organised Luo Festival. And he didn't disappoint. For the lovers of rap music, you should pay to watch this guy perform live. He commands the stage.
It was Wuod Fibi that, however, did the unexpected. His performance of his song Cham Gi Wang'i was well executed that it sent chills among the fans who were amazed at his impeccable vocal range. This guy should be taken seriously. He is an entertainer.
And then there was Emma Jalamo. He knows his crowd. And he knows how to make them get off the chairs and dance. It was a very cold night and before he performed, most fans were either seated or just standing in the cold. But when he stepped on the stage, the entire ground filled up with fans dancing to his masterly done songs. He is a real performer.
There is a rumour out there that once Emma Jalamo performs before you do, count your losses and go home. Well, perhaps Musa Jakadala should have read the script. His performance was long awaited given the rousing reception he received from the audience when he stepped up to perform but things went bad from the moment his band came on stage.
The sound system took forever to work out. If it was not a keyboard issue, it was the mulfuctioning microphone. And when we thought everything was fine and the performance good to go, the music wasn't just as great as we had hoped.
There was no harmony. It was hard to reconcile the performance on the stage and the sweet songs we are used to listening to from his audios. Things were just out of sync.
And that is the same fate that awaited Lady Maureen, the undisputed Queen of Ohangla. But she made up for the problematic sound system by showcasing a performance that would forever be etched in the minds of her fans. Those dancers have extraterrestrial energy!
