Truth be told, this has never happened in the arts industry in Uganda, it is one of the outstanding shows the magical Dj duo has ever had and if much emphasis is put, there will never be such a show in the country.
Do you know that way back, DJs in Uganda used to play at functions just to be given food in return? Ever known of any African DJ who has ever put up a show and filled up Serena Hotel? You must be wondering why all these questions and does anyone by any chance have the answer(s)? Well, you don’t need to know everything, because we have the answers.
One of Uganda’s legendary Deejays Dan-Yo in a video confirmed that deejaying way back in the 80s had no meaning; he revealed that it wasn’t any easy those days mixing music since technology couldn’t allow.
“It wasn’t any easy job at all those days, at the time of music tapes, no one knew how to mix music but as time went by, we were able to figure out how to do the mixing of music in those tapes and they would contain our signature names,” he said.
DJ Alberto put it clear that after all the impossibilities and when they finally established and mastered the art of deejaying, they at first would play at both village and town functions for just a plate of food and some small hand-outs in return, which is not the case anymore.
“We later on gathered respect from event organizers and society started appreciating and respecting our art.”
Basing on Alberto’s disclosure, it is very clear that Djs now command respect in Uganda’s music industry and are playing a huge role in developing the industry. Talking about payment, DJs now get some hefty pay and close big deals with big companies to perform at different events.
After years of hard work and several seasons of the mixtape, DJ Slick Stuart and Roja once again organized yet another edition, this time round; it was season 8 and the most remarkable of all.
And having watched the boys succeed in their everyday hustles, Johnnie Walker decided to walk a journey with DJ Slick Stuart and Roja and little did the brand know that it would turn out incredibly well, now a game changer.
To put it right, the DJ duo took bold moves and there they are, they made it big, claiming what rightfully belongs to them, the fame, the popularity they have gained over the years. And yes, they now have it,and with the just concluded edition, no one comes close to them.
Season 8 started off on a high gear, of course as planned with great performances from the illest DJs Fame,Sir Aludah,Mercy and the legendary Selector Jay who set Kampala Serena’s Victoria hall on fire before Slick Stuart and Roja could embrace the well decorated stage.
Listen, this is a moment you need to grab your whiskey, wine, beer and if that is not okay, better still, get your reading glasses, for all you need is to pay much attention here. Much as the show can be exaggerated, it can’t be the recently concluded Slick Stuart and Roja mixtape party. Everything was on plan, not to talk of the stage,lights among others.
What shocked revellers the more is how the duo stepped on stage immediately after the presentation detailing their journey in the industry, and off with their unpredicted move, what we can call the perfect journey they chose ever, they started off their performance with the big international tracks, of course not the usual way others do it, these two have really mastered the art of going international.
We are talking about tunes like Levels by Avicii, Justine Bieber’s Ghost, My love by West life, among others and at exactly 12:25am, they would end the great mixes of incredible hits with Sean Kingston’s Me love, paving way to the local songs.
“Let’s come back home before these guys start thinking we have abandoned them,” the two seemed to have deep thoughts. They literally brought New York City vibe right into Uganda and there is no doubt about that.
Forget other shows; this is one –of- a kind real experience exclusive show no other Ugandan has ever delivered. But was it really meant for Uganda? One would ask. Ohhh! yes, it was but the only difference is that it was in Kampala.
The duo would later on play Ugandan music before they could give way to South Africa’s DJ Felo le Tee who at first had to try hard to raise his standard the more just as to match the already highly set bar.
He did as much as he could and with his quite different genre, he was able to reach Slick Stuart and Roja’s level which he kept for some time,before he couldn’t joke anymore, Felo couldn’t help himself but to jump on to the dance flow and entertain revellers with his unique dance moves. He danced to some of the Amapiano songs he features some of the artists and even those he didn’t feature on.
Everything was perfect, until about 12:55am when the DJ duo returned on stage for the second time and this time not like the first appearance but wait, they still went international few minutes later with a track by Katty Perry, Tonny Braxton’s ‘Try Sleeping with the Broken Hearts’ among others. We saw them spin the music discs, banging local songs from Pallaso, Chameleone, King Saha and Rickman among others all the way to 1:38am.
At exactly 1:39am they yet shocked revellers when Ugandan singers started showing up on stage, performing some of their songs featuring the DJ duo. And just as revellers thought it was all over, they yet experienced something extra-ordinary, one that the award winning writers would describe as what only the eyes saw and heard by the ears but way too heavy for the mouth to speak.
We are talking of singers; Weasel, A Pass, Rickman Manrick, Zex Bilangilangi and Grenade Official among others coming on to stage one at a time performing Replay which according to MC Kats is going to be a remix from the singers. At this point, everyone was on their toes dancing and cheering the artists on stage who took over 30 minutes with Slick and Roja and this was a great thing, it felt like a Hollywood movie. It was the best moment that showcased solidarity that the singers have with the DJs in the Music industry.
And just as everyone thought the show had come to an end, well, it wasn’t over yet, it was still on going as the DJ duo took up their places again to spin the wheels again and again till 4:00am.
Let’s save the exclusive stage setup and the lights for another day but for your information, and just in case you are looking for the dopest events company to trust with international events or rather classy exceptional stage set up and lights among others, then ATS events is what you exactly need.
As we retire and put down the pen for this article, we want to accord Slick Stuart and Roja RESPECT for they just attained a new title ‘Best African DJ duo of all time’ but just like we said, there will never be a show as dope as DJ Slick Stuart and Roja Mixtape Blend season 8 and from us to the duo,the sponsorship should still work for the next season to avoid lowering down the already set international class in the just concluded celebration.
Watch out for the next part of this story!
