Three award winning American gospel artists known for raising the banner of Christ using the tool of music are set to headline the annual “Born Free Concert,” a gospel musical event scheduled for September 23rd at Lugogo sports complex – Kampala.
Da’ T.R.U.T.H, Jonathan Mcreynolds and Mali Music will minister alongside Uganda’s multi-talented gospel artists; Brian Lubega, Sandra Suubi, Samuel Kimera and Zabuli.
This historical concert organised by The Usual Suspects in conjunction with Covenant Nations Church will first gather secondary and university students for a 3-day conference starting 21st September.
Mr Ikiriza Kiremire Enock, from The Usual Suspects speaks to this website ahead of the Born Free Concert and Conference.
What is the Born Free concert about?
Enock: Born Free is a concept we did last year – It is a conference that goes for three days mostly for high school students but we usually end it with a concert. The concert is what most people in the general public know about because the way we market and push the conference is more for the high school students.
This year we are doing it again and we have three international artists, Da’ T.R.U.T.H, Jonathan Mcreynolds and Mali Music. We will also be having three artists from Uganda, Brian Lubega, Sandra Suubi and Zabuli.
Tickets go for Shs20,000 ordinary and Shs50,000 for VIP.
How did you come up with the name ‘Born Free’?
Enock: If you are familiar with the story of the Israelites when they were in Egypt – We had a generation of people born in a time of bondage and slavery. Later, God delivers them from that and they travel through the desert. However, this particular generation of people was barred from entering the Promised Land because their mindset could not handle the time of freedom – they were still locked in the former state and ways of bondage. God had to wait for a new generation to come up that was used to the times of freedom.
We find this similar to our story as Ugandans. We have a new generation of people, the youngest population of youngsters and they have grown up in times that are very different from those of their parents. Our parents grew up in a time of so many different wars, scarcity and hustle for so many things. But the hustle for the new generation is very different from the former. The mindset is different. In order for us to live the kind of life that God wants us to live, it requires that new generation of people born into freedom with a different mindset to address different issues.
Whereas we respect where the former generation has come from, the challenges we have today are very different. The principles we have to follow are the same but the challenges – way we go about things is very different. We are trying to find a platform where we can equip young people with the principles that they need in order to make it as opposed to specific tactics because, those used back then, don’t work today.
We are trying to see how we change the country by changing an entire generation by giving them the principles.
When is the conference starting?
Enock: It begin 21th and ends 23rd September. We do the concert on the last day (23rd) – It will be at Covenant Nations Church in Luzira. They are our partners. We came up with the idea of the conference with them but as The Usual Suspects, we mainly focus on the concert. However, We do work on the conference with them. It is free to all high school students and runs full day. We do have conference speakers, but the artists also come in and speak to the students. They then do their performances at the concert. Da’ T.R.U.T.H will be the main speaker but we will have a number of home speakers coming in.
From so many artists in the industry, why did you zero in on Da’ T.R.U.T.H, Jonathan Mcreynolds and Mali Music?
Enock: There are a variety of things we consider. We always look at the theme and goal of the conference. So, we were looking at which artiste is relevant. Because the concert is supposed to be the summarized version of the conference. This conference is three days, but general public always comes for the concert which is couple of hours.
How do we condense what we have done in the conference to a package the general public can handle. We look at artists relevant to what we trying to do at the conference. Da’ T.R.U.T.H is a very brilliant speaker and has a lot of content. He is mature enough and very able to connect.
Jonathan Mcreynolds and Mali Music are abit younger and are very able to connect with the crowd, speaking from personal experiences and life testimonies about the things we are trying to address.
We also try to find artists that have a cross over appeal. Mali Music for example is almost as popular with the secular audience as he is with gospel audience. And those are the people we are trying to reach out to across those different divides.
Based on criteria of what we were looking for, we narrowed down to those artists we thought would work – have a combination that covers different genes of music and appeal so that as many people as possible can be ministered to on the same platform.
What was their first reaction when you contacted them about this concert?
Enock: Da’ T.R.U.T.H has been here before. Mali Music has been to Africa once. For Mcreynolds it is his very first time so he is really excited. Uganda is one of Da’ T.R.U.T.H’s favorite places. He was overwhelmed the last he came. He is actually the one giving the others hype. But they are all excited. They are rehearsing and ready to have a great time and fellowship with everyone.
Rumors have it that this concert is in a way attached to the House of the President. Is it true?
Enock: ’m not surprised that you are asking this. The first concert that we had, the President attended, and so it is easy for people to obviously think this is about the president or has the First Lady attached to it. But it is not quite the case. The show is about Ugandans and young people. The Church that we are partnering with (Covenant Nations Church), one of the Pastors there is the First Lady’s daughter. So that is about as much of the connection that there is. But other than that, it really has nothing to do with State House or government or politics. Its about lifting up Jesus and connecting young people to their God-given purpose.
When will the international artists be arriving?
Enock: They will arrive in time for the conference to do their speaking and leave a day after the concert because we are having them do several shows in different places. So we are trying to manage how much time they have. We have booked some of them for Kenya, Malawi, South Africa.
What should Ugandans expect?
Enock: They should expect an amazing time of worship. They should expect to party – have a blast at the concert in a family friendly environment. People of all ages are welcome. It is something you will not be ashamed to bring your parents, Children to. Security will be paramount. Most of the events we work on, we always emphasize the quality and excellence without making it impersonal. We always charge you less compared to what you are getting.
How to secure a ticket – Details Here
By Karen Alecho and Aaron Sseruyigo.
