A show for Jamaican dancehall star Anthony Moses Davis, popularly known as Beenie Man, ended in tears for him and his promoters who stared at the loss they have suffered the whole night after the event flopped, with thousands of Ugandans avoiding it and choosing other shows that were in the city on the night of Friday, November 11, 2022.
Beenie Man’s show was organized by Top Boy Entertainment Records who did little to advertise and publicize the show that happened at Lugogo in Kampala. It should be remembered that Beenie Man had arrived in the country for his show on Wednesday, November 09, and sounded upbeat for the show.
He had not only promised a great show but a number of artists such as Oxlade from Nigeria and Uganda’s Azawi, Winnie Nwagi and Vinka had all been set to entertain the audience at Beenie Man’s show.
However, things did not turn out well as had planned after only a few hundred of people showed up for the show instead of the thousands before whom Beenie Man had hoped to deliver a great show. While many resolved to flock to other shows such as the Bizonto Comedy Group’s kitambiro at the UMA Exhibition Hall and Nigerian gospel singer Ada Ehi’s show at the Lugogo Hockey Grounds (which shows were huge successes given by the number of revelers there), many more others shunned the Beenie Man show at the Lugogo Cricket Oval.
Turning 50 years old soon, Beenie Man was performing in Kampala since his previous show nearly 15 years ago. So, it is likely that the landscape has changed, with a new generation of revelers replacing the old one that valued him and his music.
Despite the disappointing numbers, Beenie Man put up a good show, trying to lift the morale of those who had paid their money to come to watch him perform. But Nigeria’s Oxlade was discouraged by the numbers and refused to go on stage to sing.
