Tarrus Riley lived to the billing! After the ugly scenes of Bebe Cool being booed and pelted with bottles until he left the stage, the Bell Jamz Swangz Avenue party climaxed on a high note.
Tarrus Riley opened his performance on a high octave performing alongside Dean Frasser and the Blak Soil band.
Shortly into the performance, he appeased the politically charged crowd by chanting ‘People Power Is Our Power’ and the atmosphere for music activism was amplified.
Wild cheers reverberated throughout the crowd as he struck a chord with them. The vibrant performances of his popular songs ensured sprinkling messages of unity, love, freedom and justice.
He remembered to spark fire into the crowd once gain when he chanted; “Free Buju Banton”, Buju his Jamaican compatriot who is incarcerated.
Before ending the night, he dropped a special song inspired by the love he has for Ugandans.
“Uganda! This is a song I sang for you. We recorded and shot part of the video and we are finishing the rest of the video right here on stage!”
“This is my first time in Uganda and my third in Africa. I have been to Kenya and Zimbabwe but with no disrespect, Uganda is very special. This is a dream come true for me,” he stated.
Traditional dancers then joined in as he sang about the Pearl of Africa blending in Luganda and mentions of towns like Mbarara.
In the song, he describes a beauty, ‘Uganda, the Pearl of Africa’.
His love affair with Uganda continued as he addressed issues of political tension saying: ” I have been watching [the] news… Uganda what’s wrong? The power is the people”.
Other than the surprise package, he performed his top songs ‘Just the way you are’, ‘Protect the people Jah’, ‘Gimme likkle drop’, ‘Rivers of Babylon cover’, among others.
He performed for over an hour to a packed Cricket Oval.
Several Ugandan acts Benon and Vampino, Ziggy Dee, Rabadaba, Weasel, Navio, Michael Ross set the party rolling with crazy performances.