Ali Campbell, the former leader of UB40, the English reggae and pop band, that won global acclamation in the 80s and 90s, has said all the shows he and his band have played on their ongoing tour have sold out, expressing optimism that their show in Kampala will be no different.
Ali and his band which goes by the banner ‘UB40 featuring Ali Campbell’ arrived in Uganda Thursday night ahead of their Saturday performance at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala. The concert will mark the climax of NBS TV’s 15-year anniversary celebrations.
Initially, the show was set for December 21 last year but was postponed a day to the event. Organizers cited double booking of the venue and other logistical challenges, which they said disrupted preparations.
It’s been 15 years since Ali Campbell was in Uganda. In 2008, UB40 staged a concert in Kampala which unfortunately would be their very last as a group. After that, Ali quit the band.
During a press conference on Friday, Ali said he and the band are currently on a world tour having recently played in Hawaii, New Zealand, South Pacific and India. And that all these shows have sold out, with smash reviews. He said he’s confident Kampala will be no different.
“It’s been a lovely welcome, as usual. It’s been a while since we were here. But we’re gonna have a great show,” the 65-year-old singer told news reporters in Kampala.
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In Kampala, Ali is set to play with a ten-piece band that features British singer, drummer and producer, Frank Benbini, who is also part of Fun Lovin’ Criminals (the American rap rock band) and Paul Slowley who has been the drummer for Ali’s band for over 7 years.
“I know it’s only my face on the posters but we’re a ten-piece band and the biggest reggae band in the world. We play constantly all over the world and it’s Uganda’s turn tomorrow. We look forward to playing tomorrow and bringing people together. Reggae is about peace, love and unity, and all those hippy things. It’s what we are about, and I think the world needs a bit of love and unity at the moment,” said Ali Campbell whose lead voice has come to be known for UB40 hit songs such as Red Red Wine, Can’t Help Falling in Love, I Got You Babe, Cherry Oh Baby and Reasons.
A number of Ugandan artistes will open for the band. Names include Bebe Cool, Rema Namakula, Navio, Elijah Kitaka, Vinka, Vampino among others. Gates open at 2pm.
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Next Media Services’ deputy chief exec. Joe Kigozi said the concert is a celebration of music and the contribution that Next Media has made towards the country’s development. He said there could be no better way to mark NBS TV’s 15-year milestone than with the biggest reggae band.
He also expressed how disheartened he was when last year’s scheduled concert was canceled and consequently postponed. He, however, noted how big of a fan base Ugandans are, and that they are ready to reward them with their money’s worth.
Energetically strolling in with his entire band for the press conference, Ali could not hide his ecstasy for being back in Uganda. Before the presser, the Englishman planted a tree, as part of the key elements of this concert – conserving the environment in Uganda.
According to the organisers, all proceeds from the concert will go towards planting 15 million trees across the country.
At the presser, Aly Allibhai who heads Talent Africa, the production house managing the technical aspects of the concert promised revelers an unforgettable concert, one where “older generations will relish, and younger generations will live to remember”.
“My journey as a promoter started right at the first UB40 concert, in 2008, when I witnessed how phenomenal Ali Campbell and his band were. Fast forward, in 2020, I started the quest to bring the band to Uganda, only to be curtailed by Covid-19. However, they are finally here, and we have invested our energy and experience in this show. Ugandans should expect the best,” said Alibhai.
About their preparedness to pull off an equally energetic show, like their previous concerts, Alibhai alluded to their ongoing concerts, saying, they have already been all over the world, last year and early this year, “doing what we always do best”.
He has had to go to Mumbai (India) to watch the band play, as a way of appreciating the finer details of how their production comes together so Talent Africa can get the Kampala event right.
“We’ve been working for months trying to make this show the best that it can be. The experience will be word class,” Alibhai said.
Navio, one of the local acts set to share stage with Campbell and his band could not help but show his excitement to perform with the revered English band.
“Because it is a once-in-a-lifetime show, Ugandans should expect the same from me on that day,” he said Navio.
Despite the hectic flight, connecting through Nairobi, Kenya, the band did sound testing Friday night.
Ali Campbell and his team also met with Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son to the Ugandan President.
Upon meeting the English band, Muhoozi took to his X page to wish them a successful show in Kampala.
“Today, it was my pleasure to meet members of the world famous band, UB40. I wished them a successful performance in Kampala tomorrow and encouraged them to return to visit some of our national parks next time. I thank the organisers of the concert.”
For Ali Campbell, returning to Kampala is certainly an emotional experience. On one part, triggering memories of all the eight members of the original band playing on the same stage, but on the other hand, the very moment that climaxed the bitter sentiments he had with them, ending their three-decade journey.
“I had just done nine dates in Australia where I was following the band around, undoing the damage they were doing in interviews,” Ali told The Guardian in 2016 while looking back at the band’s journey.
“The [Kampala] gig wasn’t emotional, for me. I was just too angry,” he added.
Robin Campbell who stayed with the original UB40 is Ali Campbell’s brother.
Recounting their time in Kampala in 2008, Robin said; “Ali didn’t even talk to us. He had his own bus and hotel. He left the band after the show and hasn’t spoken to us since. We spent the next five years proving to everybody that we could still be UB40.”
The melancholy notwithstanding, the same reasons – the nostalgic music that has come to be attached to different memories for many – that drew thousands of Ugandans to fill the Lugogo Cricket Oval 15 years ago will likely cause the same effect this time.
Back then, the concert which was organized by MTN Uganda attracted Kampala’s affluent and influential, among them Gen David Tinyefuza, Gen Ivan Koreta, Gen Jim Muhwezi, former Kampala mayor Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, Sylvia Nagginda (Queen of Buganda) and Best Kemigisha (Toro Queen Mother) among others.
