Beenie Gunter’s “Dancehall Heat Rave” lights up Kampala

When dancehall musician Crescent Baguma, alias Beenie Gunter, took over social media after being detained in Dubai in January, it was easy to imagine that the setback might send him down a path of depression.

However, upon his return to Uganda, Gunter began preparing for his return concert, initially dubbed “Guntalk Fest,” which he later renamed “Dancehall Heat Rave.”

Last Saturday at Garden City Rooftop in Kampala, Gunter finally staged the maiden “Dancehall Heat Rave.”

Hosted by Shiela Salta and Jowkwiz, the event kicked off as early as 5:00 pm. True to the spirit of dancehall music, the energy was electrifying from the start. With different DJs taking turns to enliven the atmosphere, it didn’t take much to draw in fervent Beenie Gunter fans.

Some of the dancers contesting on stage

The lights, sound, and stage setup were commendable, especially considering how particular dancehall artists can be about sound quality.

Dance Competitions kick off the show

To start the show perfectly, a heated dance competition captured the crowd’s attention. This followed a call for interested dancers put out before the day of the show. With DJs Tony, Kash Pro, and Denno playing music for each contestant, and renowned dancer Ritah Dancehall serving as a judge, the competition was thrilling. The winner walked away with an opportunity to dance with Jamaican star Dexta Daps during his live performance in Kampala on December 14, 2024.

Vampino entertaining the crowd

The Party Pipo dancers then continued with their exciting moves, accompanied by celebrated reggae/dancehall DJ Naselow Da Don, who kept the crowd on their feet.

The long lineup of local musicians began at 8:00 pm with Dax Vibez, who set the mood for the rest of the performers.

Vampino then took over with his unmatched dancehall energy. While his presence on stage surprised some, his performance was no surprise to those who follow him religiously. He performed hit songs like “Smart Wire” and “Love 2 Dance.”

Ziza Bafana picked up from where Vampino left off, bringing oomph and passion. At times, it felt as though Bafana was the headlining act. He performed “Sagala Ntalo,” “Embuzi,” “Agende,” “Guluma Nasomye,” and “Katonda Wa Ragga,” leaving many yearning for more of his music and ladies screaming for more of his presence and “bad man" style on stage.

Revellers having fun at the Dancehall Heat Rave

The main act of the night, Beenie Gunter, stepped on stage at 10:00 pm, clad in a black leather jacket, black leather pants, and a black headband. Opening with “Sekkle Down,” one of his most popular songs, Gunter set the perfect mood for his first set, despite its low tempo. The tempo then increased with “Pon Mi,” “Watto,” and “Tubayo,” among others. He was joined by musician Lydia Jazmine on stage to perform their love ballad “No Letting Go.” While many loved Jazmine’s sensual outfit, not everyone was impressed with her delivery of the song.

Gunter closed his performance with his latest song, “Njewulira.” For this particular song, Gunter and Jazmine had the crowd singing along as their backup artists.