Blankets and Wines: 5 things Ugandans learnt

Attending Blankets and Wine Kampala always meant carrying Wine, mats, blankets and veils to the venue at the Uganda Museum, as it was then.

Here, revellers would sit on their ‘blankets’, sipping on their wines as they were entertained on stage.

But it’s been 18 editions since Blankets and Wines first arrived in Kampala. Musicians and bands have performed and gone and come back again.

For the five hours that we spent at the last edition of Blankets and Wine at Lugogo Cricket Oval, we learnt more about socialites, their passions, why they’re still attending Blankets and Wine – and the prices.

The performances

Seyi Shay! Few can hardly name any of her songs but ironically, many dance to them on a daily! Without a doubt, Nigerian music rules at the moment. This could even be seen whenever it was played by the DJ. Revellers always went wild. Not surprising that even a less known musician, Seyi Shay got a warm reception.

Seyi Shay took to the stage at 9pm. Gazing across the sizeable audience she remarks: “Y’all know Patoranking….. Does anyone here know Patoranking?” she asked, a question to which the audience responded, “yes” in unison. “Well, my first song is a song I recorded with Patoranking…”  She performs her collabo with Patoranking, ‘Murda’.

And self-deprecation is the order of the evening – the banter between Seyi Shay and the crowd is good humoured throughout. Her gold-coloured trouser, coat and peeping bra are the source of much mirth.

As they threaten to steal the show, she teases them: “Can I completely unbutton my coat?” “No need to worry, I don’t have boobs…. I only got ‘Nyash’ (bums)!” She unbuttons more buttons to lap up the applause…Performs two more songs then has to go off-stage to change her cloths.

She returned and performed two more songs, including a collabo with WizKid before wrapping ofc her performance a few minutes to 10pm. She was indeed a great performer. 

Rabadaba’s first live performance

Following Seyi Shay on stage was veteran musician, Rabadaba. Quite off the entertainment scene for several years, the dancehall artiste returned last year with a hit banger, ‘Body’. Though, he had never performed live. Well, this opportunity availed itself at Sunday’s Blankets and Wine. And he wasn’t that bad anyway. We actually learnt, Rabadaba can actually perform live. 

The audiences

Well, since the relocation of the picnic-themed event from its host grounds, the Uganda Museum, the attendance has been that impressive despite the new home being a relatively larger place. Actually, the main reason for relocation was because their audience had become bigger than what Uganda Museum can host.

But the audience has since halved ever since it was moved to Cricket Oval. Nevertheless, Sunday attracted the largest audience ever since the show was moved there. 

The Blankets & Wines

Well, their new venue appears to have ushered in several new changes. Unlike previously, on the last edition, many revellers were seen standing and few were seen on the ‘blankets’. Still, there were just a handful of wines. Also, bouncing castles for the kids and DStv for football lovers appear to be no more.

However, still on audience, allegations of the picnic being a gay-get-together party have continued even to Sunday’s edition. Several known gays were seen in attendance, including other men who had dressed like ladies. These too are believed to be reason why some parents that used to attend the show with their kids have since stopped attending.

The Prices

Nonetheless, the dwindling attendance has been blamed on hiking of prices by the event’s organisers. Initially, entrance fee to the show had been Shs70, 000. However, this has since been raised to Shs100, 000.

Despite the several changes since its first edition, among the things that have remained constant at Blankets and Wines is, Tusker Malt Larger, the sponsors of the event since it’s first day in Uganda. Tusker pledged its continued sponsorship for the event.

And yes, you guessed right! As always, the event was attended by some of the most beautiful ladies in Kampala. This is the other thing that hasn’t changed ever since the launch of the event in Kampala.