By Ivan Kabuye
Nobody can stop reggae. Not even the weather could stop revellers from storming Jahazi Pier in Munyonyo for the Roast and Rhyme Reggae Ragga Nyam Nyam on Sunday, February 26.
The day started with a downpour in several parts of Kampala. Luckily, there was not a single drop of rain in Munyonyo. Revellers flocked to the venue, causing heavy jam from Eco Auto Spa to Jahazi Pier.
By 1:00pm, revellers had already started to walk into Jahazi Pier to jam to some sweet reggae beats and mouth-watering nyama choma.
Kicking off the show at 7:30pm was Rickman Manrick, who hit the stage warming up the crowds with hits such as Hangover, Ayizulu, Bestie and Tusimbudde.
Afterwards, there was a surprise performance from an artiste who many had last seen performing almost a decade ago and that was none other than Queen Bella.
She engaged the crowds with a freestyle session that excited them, before even performing any of her songs we all know.
Bella was the true definition of vibes, a piece that was missing to complete the reggae vibe.
The dancehall queen performed four of her songs, and her performance was full of energy and sensational.
At about 8:30pm, Nutty Neithan come up on stage to take revellers into another enjoyment session. He started off with a freestyle as well, singing about Nyam Nyam.
It took him almost 20 minutes to put up a great show as he started with slow songs, that were almost a turn-off. However, it was after he started performing songs such as Walk to Work and Bakuwe Kyonywa that revellers got excited too, and started chanting.
Neithan’s performance lasted for about 45 minutes.
His performance was just a starter to what was about to happen as revellers were already in the mood for some great vibes.
At 9:00pm, the long-waited legend Maddox Sematimba come up on stage alongside the Swangz Avenue Double Black Band; it was like the show had just started.
With songs like Namagembe, Kankulage, Munakyalo, Ssebo omuyimbi and Irene, a few revellers remained seated.
As the show got fired up, Maddox called Swangz Avenue’s Benon Mugumbya on stage to sing along. It was just a great moment for fans to see Benon, also a singer from the group Benon and Vamposs (Vampino), rhyming to reggae music.
Later, Vampino joined Benon for backup.
As Maddox was finishing his performance, he thanked revellers for turning up in large numbers to support him and the Roast and Rhyme event.
After Maddox’s performance, DJ Mercy took over mixing reggae vibes songs hyping up the crowds till the wee hours.
