Bobi Wine could be the most desirable artiste at the moment. Since he released Ndi Muna Uganda to counter an All Star Tubonga Nawe, he has been looked at as a politically right youth that cares for the issues many locals care about.
In Ndi Muna Uganda, he seemed to answer Bebe Cool’s charges that Bobi is a local artiste whose music never crosses the border, in fact, on a verse the song he hits out at the former and Chameleone for striving to impress two foreigners forgetting the millions of Ugandans that have made them what they are.
He would later follow that up with a poorly sought after but lyrically right Dembe which called upon Ugandans to go and vote but remain peaceful. Much as the song was deemed as pro-opposition, many thought it was an ordinary song simply making a relevant communication, but nevertheless, Dembe was bad art.
Today, Bobi is riding on yet another politically charged single Situka. The song seems to address the situation that followed the election after results were released – frustrated faces and lost hope.
He seems to channel his emotions towards Ugandans that supported different candidates and lost telling them that they should pick themselves up and walk rather than give up.
The songs is indeed telling Ugandans that change is in their hands, thus, much as they have not emmerged victors, they should stand up to the injustices because no one will do it for them now that even the candidates they had invested their hopes in too have their hopes in the masses.
The song that is heavily blended in a reggae feel has Bobi Wine deliver like he rarely does, he’s articulate, poetic, and emotional though still calling on Ugandans to give up waiting for institutions but rather play their own part.
Earlier before its release, Bobi had shared a rather well-crafted post on social media, in the long write up, the artiste seemed to put himself in the position of the former FDC presidential candidate noting that; “When the going gets tough, the tough must get going, especially when our Leaders have become Misleaders and Mentors have become Tormentors. When freedom of expression is met with suppression and oppression, then Opposition becomes Our Position.”
That post forms the introduction of Situka and many jusic fans have described it as punchy and driving the message home.
The series of songs are Bobi Wine’s redemption after he was accused of backing Jennifer Musisi only a year after criticizing her ways.
But it’s not just Bobi Wine basking in glory after an election, Mathias Walukagga who was prominent on Amama Mbabazi’s campaign trail has too since released Referee, a song where he seems to note that the election ground only favored a player other than all.
However, even when Bobi Wine is on the roll, things may be getting worse or already at the worst for artistes that were part of the Tubonga Nawe project, that’s if the backlash they are getting on social media is anything to go by.
Bebe Cool has since announced that he will be holding his Life of Bebe Cool on 5 August at Serena Hotel but has been meant with insults. Showing a change in goal posts, unlike the pre-general election times where he would exchange with fans, this time he literally takes a back seat and lets the abuse settle in.
In fact, Bebe has since changed his social media posting pattern, these days he goes for more than five days without littering stuff on the web and unconfirmed reports from the Gagamel Phamily indicate that for the first time in many years, the artist may not host his annual Easter Monday East African Carnival that usually takes place in Kiwatule.
Haruna Mubiru and Radio and Weasel have already tasted the medicine of annoyed Ugandans, apparently, the diaspora society has kept their word and indeed boycotted their Februarys shows in London and Dubai.
While appearing on Dembe FM’s Talk and Talk show, Frank Gashumba noted that artistes did no wrong in taking the ruling party’s money to do a song for the campaign, but simply had to sing and move on; “But if you go as far as branding your car with stickers, going on social media to argue with fans, then you’re out of the line.”
On whether Ugandans have what it takes to boycott shows that are happening, one radio presenter that requested anonymity says that much of the boycott talk is driven by emotions, but fans will attend once the storm is over.
Though many argue that laying low for long may make them irrelevant especially in an industry where showing face and multiple releases keep you afloat.
For those that had shows flopping in the diaspora, he says that they were ill advised about having concerts amidst a crisis, in his view, artists can lay low until all this passes; “Ugandans easily forget and let things go under the rug, if any of the Tubonga Nawe artistes opts for August, they will make their money.”
He also notes that the boycott activism is rampart on social media which people barely pay for concerts but the downtown people that usually support out of their love for the artiste.
So where does this leave Bebe Cool with his shs100,000/= concert in August?
“He will have the corporates if he decides to have as many complimentary tickets,” he says adding that very few Ugandans will be willing to part with such money thus the show will have people but many won’t pay a coin.
As Gashumba puts it, artistes are like cultural leaders, much as they have the freedom to support, they put themselves in a tight spot when they rally support than they were expected to.
“These people have supporters that backed NRM, FDC, DP and other parties thus they should be calculative,” he noted.
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