Moment of truth as Lady Jaydee hosts Vocals Night

Lady Jaydee is probably the Best Bongo Flava female vocalist of this generation whose influence cuts across different age groups, one who has odds to stay at the very top for almost two decades.

Ever since that breakthrough album Machozi, she has remained at the very top scooping awards on several fronts including the Kora awards.

She has always rebounded from both career and personal problems to show what many of her female compatriots have failed to do – resolve.!

From a failed marriage to a wrangle with her record label, she has shown that she can bounce back again even when some commentators were forced to write her off at some point.

When her career seemed to have gone into oblivion, she came back strong with an album which she named ‘Woman’ and a bonus in terms of a new man.

A few weeks ago she posted a cryptic message on twitter that sent her legion of fans into a panic mode, it was one that didn’t bode well for it pointed towards suicide.

Today the songstress hosts what she has christened as the Vocals night at Mlimani City Hall, concert that brings together artistes from Zahara from South Africa and Juliana Kanyomozi from Uganda.

According to her Vocals Night celebrates the nostalgic musical journey that many fans have enjoyed from some of the celebrated African Women, underscored by many of their popular hits.

“Vocals Night also celebrates the contribution our very own, with performances by astute live musicians, Damian Soul and Grace Matata, who have both made waves in their own right and continue to contribute to memorable vocal performances,” she writes in a statement. Nigeria’s Uti, winner of Big Brother,All Stars 2010, is also set to be part of the evening as the host of the event.

Her choice of hosting this night has got tongues wagging with many speculating that she was veering towards management.

The musicians that Lady Jaydee has chosen to associate with are stars and celebrities in their own right who suit the billing of such a huge night.

Juliana

Of the artistes that the song bird has chosen to work with on her day of reckon, Juliana Kanyomozi who is no stranger to Tanzanian territory and music.

Her first collaboration with Bushoke ‘Usiende Mbali’ won her a loyal fan base in Tanzania one that she continues to enjoy to date. Her last performance at the same venue where the Vocals’ Night takes place was in 2011 at the Miss Tanzania finals.

Her steady career path has seen her win multiple awards (19) both in her native Uganda and elsewhere including Tanzania where she won the Kilimanjaro Music award in 2010 for the Best East Africa Song.

Juliana rose to fame in the late 1990s as one half of the all-girl duo I-Jay, with fellow Ugandan Iryn Namubiru.

The group’s single titled Vive la Vie was a popular record on Ugandan radio stations at that time. After the duo disbanded, Juliana launched a solo career.

Just like Lady Jay Juliana’s career has been through some very difficult moments, especially the death of her only child.

It was an incident that saw her take impromptu retreat from work and the social scene for several months.

And even after she got back it took her quite a while to get back to her usual self.

Though she admits that it took a huge toll on her, Juliana is still full of the charm that has made her one of the best.

“I’ve been through a lot. I’ve always been extremely strong. But this was beyond it. There are things that happen to you and you cannot find the perfect vocabulary to explain them. It’s that pain that leaves you helpless and no one else but God can help!” Juliana told the Nairobian then.

Incidentally, just like Lady Jadee as part of her triumphant come back, Juliana recorded a new song titled, Woman.

At one point both women were signed by Swedish Cosmetics giants Oriflame to become their East African brand ambassadors together with Jamila Mbugua of Kenya.

In July the singer release her latest studio album titled “Bits and Pieces” one that she has described as very personal, with each song revealing a different layer of her.

Zahara

Zahara on the other hand classifies her music as “Afrosoul” and she sings in her native language, Xhosa, as well as in English.

Her music has been described as a mixture of styles that have been popularized by Tracy Chapman and India.Arie.

Zahara started her career busking on the streets of East London. She was spotted by TK Nciza of TS Records, who signed her to his label.

Zahara’s debut album Loliwe was released in 2011. The first issue sold out within 72 hours, and 19 days later, the album reached double platinum status in South Africa by surpassing the 100,000 sales mark.

This made her the second musician after Brenda Fassie, who was also a Xhosa native, to reach this figure in such record time.

Zahara released her first live DVD which featured X-Factor USA contestant LeRoy Bell. The DVD reached platinum (according to the standards set by the Recording Industry of South Africa) in one day.

On 1 May 2012, at the annual South African Music Awards, Zahara won eight awards, including “Best Female Artist” and “Album of the Year”.

In 2013, Zahara released her second studio album, Phendula. Phendula won three South African Music Awards for Best Selling Album, Best R&B, Soul and Reggae Album and Best Female Artist of the Year.

The same year, Nelson Mandela invited her to his home to perform a private bedside concert.

She then composed “Nelson Mandela” in his honor and released it as an EP.

In July 2014, Zahara’s younger brother was murdered in East London. According to Zahara, she went through a period of depression after his death, but recovered enough for the 2015 release of Country Girl.

In 2017, Zahara signed with Warner Music South Africa and released Mgodi, her fourth studio album. The album went gold after only six hours.

Zahara is the brand ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.