Uganda: And the Models Pranced As the Balls Spun

The Observer (Kampala)

Felix Eupal

15 June 2011

Last Thursday, Century Bottling Company, through their brand Sprite, did something Kampala just dreamed about; they brought the And1 crew down here. I know you are wondering what that is.

The And1 crew are the best freestyle basketball players in the world. These guys can do almost anything with a basketball in their hands. Uganda was their second last stop as they concluded their East African tour. Kampala never lags behind when it comes to showbiz; so, all roads led to Wandegeya YMCA courts for everyone to get a glimpse of these guys versus a Uganda select side.

And the place was full by 4pm for a game slated to start at 6pm. Musicians, sports personalities and socialites were all in attendance. On the other end of town, the monthly fashion show at Club Silk was on, this time with Juliet Donkare showcasing her African designs.

Since it is always the same crowd that attends Kampala parties, the people were still having a good time at YMCA by 9pm when the fashion show was supposed to kick off. The organizers held on but the numbers were simply not growing.

The 28-year-old Donkare showcased at the International Fashion Week in 2006 and the Afriq Fashion gala in Cameroon last year. With such a background, the small crowd expected a lot. But the casual wear had nothing to write home about, office wear didn’t offer any glimpses as well until it came to the evening wear.

The way she blended the colours with the fabric was amazing and gave one reason enough to trek down to Zzimwe road in Muyenga where her shop is located. But even that didn’t stir the seemingly bored crowd; the musicians she had chosen – Craze Unit, former members of the Bataka Clan – were so bad that many opted to ignore them while they pretended to sing.

It wasn’t until Lillian Mbabazi stepped on stage that the crowd got something to cheer about and stop complaining about their money. Although she didn’t perform live as she usually does, Lillian gave it her best and the crowd was in high spirits.

She started with Kawa, then gave them a sample of Danger which she has fined-tuned since she first performed it with her band The Sundowners. Ye Gwe Wekka has started getting some airplay and the crowd didn’t complain. She wound up with Vitamin and, indeed, she was the vitamin that saved Donkare’s show.

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