Nigerian artist Joeboy, whose real name is Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus, has promised to deliver an unforgettable performance for his Ugandan fans on Saturday evening.
The soft-spoken artist expressed his readiness for the Ugandan audience during a press conference at the MCI Media Hub on Friday, 26th July. The artist is in town ahead of the Lavida Rave slated for Saturday, 27th July at Lugogo Hockey Grounds.
“I like to make music, I like to entertain, and most importantly, enjoy traveling Africa.” Joeboy said.
He also encouraged young artists to stay committed to their trade. This advice, he said, goes to all the youth involved in forms of art from music to poetry and photography among others. According to Joeboy, the most important thing in a creative journey is taking the first step.
The Adenuga hitmaker said he’s looking forward to connecting with his Ugandan audience on a personal level.
“I am just looking forward to a wonderful experience for everybody. Obviously, the audience is key, but I also want to enjoy the Rave.” Joeboy said.
When tasked to explain why Ugandan music doesn’t do well in Nigeria, Joeboy said it’s mainly because their industry revolves around presence. He advised Ugandan artists to establish a physical presence in Nigeria through distributors and agents if they are to penetrate that market. Short of that, it will be a mountainous task. He cited Joshua Baraka as the East African artist who has gone this route and the results are evident.
He also strayed from the music conversation to talk about Nigeria’s influence on the world.
“We [Nigerians] are scattered all over the world. You’ll find us on every continent, let alone country you visit. But most importantly, we want to dominate wherever we are.” Joeboy.
Saturday’s concert isn’t Joeboy’s first in Uganda after the Nigerian artist visited in 2019. In Joeboy’s own words, the Lavida Rave is also a celebration of his growth over the last couple of years. He acknowledged that he had less than five hit songs during his first Kampala event. However, that is different with the Lavida Rave as his catalogue spans dozens of songs.
Tickets for the concert are available for as low as shs 90,000 via rave.ug
