British Reggae Band UB40’s 30,000+ audience concert has always held the record as the biggest that has ever happened in Uganda, but the Swangz Avenue show marking their tenth year, headlined by Jamaican Reggae/ Dancehall Artist Tarrus Riley that happened last Friday, has arguably taken a place next to it.
First off, Lugogo Cricket Oval is the biggest concert space among those commonly used by Ugandan performers, so anyone who fills it gets bragging rights. And one thing for sure, after UB40’s 2008 Concert, it is only Morgan Heritage’s(also organized by Swangz), Doctor Jose Chameleone Hit After Hit Concert and Gravity Omutujju’s Tujjuze Cricket Oval; that came close to this.
At Tarrus’ show, the Cricket Oval tuff got flooded by a sea of heads and the stands too were tainted with congestion. The Jamaican also didn’t disappoint, as he performed exuberantly for over one and a half hours, backed by the vibrant Black Soil Band and celebrated saxophonist Dean Fraser.
Tarrus revealed that it is only his third time in Africa, but after shows in Kenya and Zimbabwe, Uganda is the most special for him, and he sang a tribute for it, whose video was completed live on stage.
