Rapper Gravity Omutujju’s concert at the Lugogo Cricket Oval registered one of the lowest turn-ups ever witnessed at the venue.
The concert on Saturday night coincided with three other major shows, one a stone’s throw away at the Zoe Grounds and two others at the Kampala Sheraton and Jahazi Pier in Munyonyo.
His Adam’s apple was visible as he struggled to sing for the fans who pitied him rather than cheer. Rather than sing, he chose to vent his frustrations.
Taking to the stage a few minutes before midnight, Gravity stared down in disbelief at the tiny crowd that barely surrounded the massive stage.
Right off the mark, a mechanical glitch got him boiling. As he ranted, the microphones went off for several minutes, distorting his intro, which featured a fireworks display, a traditional dance troupe, and an energetic acrobatics performance.
When the issue was finally fixed, Gravity kicked off the show with a few of his hit songs, but later on stopped to vent on Balaam Barugahara, the state minister for gender, labour, and social development in charge of children and youth affairs, for giving him faulty equipment.
“Balaam can no longer manage sound; he is just destroying people’s careers,” he said.
“How do you bring this sound when you have been paid Shs. 50 million?”
The singer and rapper complained about the sound being shaky and his stage monitors being completely down.
“I don’t support any other singer using Balaam’s equipment; I should be the last,” he ranted.
“These machines should be used at their (political) rallies but never again at concerts.”
After a few more songs, Gravity turned his anger on the crowd, which was not as animated as he wanted.
Regarding the crowd size, Gravity said he was unfazed, adding that his competitors would never get to his level.
“They might gloat about this ground not being full, but they will never beat me,” he said, while referring to his nemesis, Mickie Wine, who had a sold-out crowd at Jahazi Pier.
What went wrong?
Analysts point to Gravity’s public relations approach as a key factor. His criticism of those fighting against the Museveni regime and ridicule of Bobi Wine may have alienated potential attendees, leading to a boycott. In contrast, Mikie Wine’s approach focused on announcing the concert date, allowing attendees to show support, and potentially exacting a measure of revenge against Gravity Omutujju.
