The new trend of big name artistes performing in Northern Uganda is set to continue following the confirmation of the news that Nigerian legend Rude boy is jetting in for a show at Acholi Inn on 21st December.
According to a flyer shared by the “Reason With Me” singer,the show is dubbed “RUDEBOY Live in GULU CITY,UGANDA @ACHOLI INN,and gates will be open to fans from 4pm.
Tickets will only be sold at the venue,although fans will be able to book beforehand.A regular ticket is going for fifty thousand shillings if booked in advance and seventy thousand shillings if purchased at the entrance.VIP tickets,on the other hand,are going for one hundred and fifty thousand shillings in advance and two hundred thousand shillings at the door.
The show is facilitated by African Heritage Music And Dance Society(AHMADS),JC Travel Limited,Acholi Inn Gulu,UPesi Event and Deejay Chi.
Rudeboy is a pillar in the Nigerian music industry that has taken over and reigned supreme over the continent and beyond over the last fifteen years,as Wizkid,Davido and Burnaboy have led and influenced the transformation of afrobeats into a global phenomenon.
Rudeboy,born Paul Nonso Okoye,was one of those who laid the foundation for that to happen,gaining prominence in the Noughties as one half of perhaps Africa’s most iconic music duo P-Square.Alongside identical twin brother Peter,who has since become known independently as Mr.P,they churned out a series of albums and singles over a prime that lasted a full decade.
The year 2005 brought them the cross over hits “Temptations” and “Bizzy Body” from their sophomore album “Get Squared”,and it was only just the start.Two years later came “Game Over”,consisting of such bops as “Do Me”,”No One Like You” and “Ifunanya”.If “Get Squared” announced them as superstars,”Game Over” certified them in that designation.
2009 release “Danger”,a more mellow record made up of the ballads “I Love You” and 2Face AKA 2Baba collaboration “Possibility” showcased the duo’s versatility,while “E No Easy” maintained their reputation as hitmakers extraordinaire,but it was 2011’s “The Invasion” that turned P-Square from contemporary superstars to generational icons.
Their longest album at fourteen tracks,it included the evergreen hit “Forever”.But its most defining characteristic was the monster collaborations it spawned,with Tiwa Savage and then P-Square protege May D coming through to assist on “Do As I Do”.The latter also featured alongside American global superstar Akon on “Chop My Money”,which went on to become of the biggest ever African songs.That wasn’t all,as the album also had “Beautiful Onyinye”,which became a global hit after Miami rapper and Maybach Music boss Rick Ross jumped on the remix.
The duo began to slow down as the mid point of the 2010s approached,as the so called “Big 3” of African music began to take center stage.But P-Square wouldn’t go out without a bang;2014 seeing the release of “Double Trouble”.It was headlined by run away hit singles “Alingo”,”Personally”,Shekini” and “Testimony”.It also served up legendary collaborations “Bring It On” with Dave Scott,”Ejeajo” featuring American rap icon “T.I and “Collabo” with fellow afrobeats legend Don Jazzy.
The latter part of the decade was a time of confusion and frustration as the hits stopped flowing so freely,culminating in the split of the duo in 2017 amid reports of disputes over how much each contributed to the creative process. Each subsequently embarked on a solo career,with Rudeboy having relatively more success,registering such major hits as “Fire Fire” in 2017 as well as the aforementioned “Reason With Me” in 2019.
The duo sensationally reunited in 2021 and promptly announced a world tour and a new album.The reunion was,however,a shortlived one,as in August this year,just three years after burying the hatchet,Rudeboy announced via a radio interview that the group had split up again.
That explains why Rudeboy will be performing in Gulu as a solo artiste,rather than alongside his twin brother and erstwhile musical partner.The duo previously performed at the Lugogo Cricket Oval in Kampala in December 2012,after which they left a cloud of controversy after allegedly being detained over uncleared bills.They then swore to never come back,but Rudeboy did return to the very same venue for a Valentine’s Day concert in February 2020.
He now becomes the latest in a series of international acts to grace Northern Uganda with their presence in the recent past,following on from Congolese legends Fally Ipupa and Awilo Longomba who lit up Arua in 2023 and 2024 respectively.Tanzanian sensation Harmonize is also set to perform in Arua on 28th December.
