UGANDA'S SUSAN NAAVA SPEAKS ABOUT HER EXIT FROM NTV

FORMER NTV Log-In show presenter Susan Nava has hit back at allegations that she was fired from the Serena Hotel-based station. Nava, who insists she went back to Europe to pursue her personal interests, said that someone in Kampala is trying to provoke a reaction out of her but she refuses to name her suspect.A tabloid on Monday reported that Nava had been ‘forced’ out of NTV and replaced with motor-mouth Robin Kisti, who shot to fame with the promo, Ekyakabi, which she co-presented with Brian Mulondo. But Nava said the allegations are “childish mudslinging” that she cannot engage in.“I was in no way forced out and although I am no longer working with NTV, my relationship with the management is still civil because it was all very drama- free. But I know where this is coming from and I know better than to participate in this juvenile mudslinging,” she said but refused to give details of the suspect she thinks is after her person. Pressed further in the telephone interview with e Kampala Sun on why she thinks it is mudslinging, she said: “Insecurity is the worst hallucinogen. I let my work speak for itself, others should do the same. Does telling tales about me being forced out make anyone else seem more competent?” Mind game experts at our desk have concluded Nava is hinting that Robin Kisti is the wheel behind the rumours, but Kisti told Corporate Ha-Heard that she is not aware of the rumour and even if she did, she can never comment on it.

MAURICE KIRYA PROVES HIS MIGHTY

There were no curtain raisers, no posters reminding us of who had sponsored the concert, no parents being hurled up to stage by the artiste, apparently to be thanked for their input in their son’s music career, no host boring us with eulogies about the artiste in a bid to kill time as the organisers wait for the crowds to swell. And oh… there were no publicity stunts for the concert involving religious conversions, no. The Maurice Kirya Live concert on Friday didn’t have that nonsense. It was simply all about music.

He walked onto stage at 8.15pm at Victoria Hall in Kampala Serena Hall and went straight into his set with the soulful, I will sing to the applause of the crowd. It was Kirya unplugged. It was Kirya shedding off the skin of “yeah he’s alright”, putting one a more tougher skin that signaled his arrival as one of the most accomplished East African artistes.

The way Kirya approached his concert in terms of preparation and concept also spoke volumes about the kind of artiste he wants to portray but better still, his knowledge about how music concerts in the West are run in terms of advertising. He for example didn’t have the traditional approach of using FM stations to announce the concert, but rather relied on the social media in avenues like Facebook to get his message out. He used Twitter to do auditions of those who wanted to participate in the concert. He actually had the concert shot live (in a documentary form) in HD (High Definition). Now, Ugandan artistes don’t do that.

The show didn’t disappoint and had a few surprises like former Tusker Project Fame contestant, Valerie Kimani having a duet with Kirya entitled Village Girl. His other duet was with his brother Vampino at the end of the show. Kirya fused his brother’s hit Sika Chapati with his own hit Boda Boda. Everything worked out well for Kirya right from his constant cheeky engagement with the fans, to issues like time-keeping. He started on time and ended on time. It was a perfect show.

The show was wrapped up by 10.30pm and going by the huge diverse crowd, Maurice Kirya had managed to convince his fans that he had moved a gear in his journey as an artiste.

UGANDA'S SLUM SHOWBIZ'S PRESIDENT LAVISH WEDDING

Around 1000 guests were invited to the lavish Bobi, Barbie wedding  on Saturday, 27 August 2011.

Singer Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, wed Barbara Itungo at Rubaga Cathedral Kampala in a ceremony presided over by Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. Their guests were treated to a luscious lunch in the sprawling Victoria Hall at the lakeside based Lake Victoria Serena Hotel.

From the guests that attended the party, it looks like the invitations were limited to the ‘who is who’ in society. A rough breakdown of guests included religious leaders, members of parliament, ministers, cultural leaders, prosperous businessmen, artistes (both in music and film), family, friends and well wishers and not forgetting city socialites.

Each of these categories of people were duly represented. Notable guests included the Nabagereka of Buganda Sylvia Nagginda, Prince Wasajja, Gilbert Bukenya, Godfrey Kirumira and his wife, Latif Sebbagala, Eria Lukwago, Ken Lukyamuzi, top artistes except Bebe Cool, Chameleone and his wife Daniella were present for mass but curiously absent at the reception, socialites led by Judith Heard among others.

Bobi’s wedding goes down in the books as the poshest celebrity wedding so far! We are comparing it with the fellow artistes Jose Chameleone’s, Ragga Dee and Silver Kyagulanyi who also had lavish weddings.

HUGH MASEKELA TO LIGHT NAIROBI

Legendary jazz maestro Hugh Masekela is in Nairobi ahead of his performance at the Carnivore tonight.

The 73-year-old South African composer and singer is famed for his hit Bring Him Back Home which became the anthem for Nelson Mandela's world tour following his release from prison.

Now, his Kenyan fans can get to watch him live in concert. He will be backed by Aaron ‘Krucial Keys’ Rimbui at the concert sponsored by Safaricom. Hugh was in the country last year on behalf of African Leadership Academy (ALA). He performed at the ALA Champions Dinner event, a small private event at Serena Hotel. ALA is a non-profit organization, which has as its mission to develop the next generation of African Leaders. They held the event to raise funds. The gate charges are Ksh 2500 advance and Ksh 3000 at the gate.