While many Ugandan artistes who have sustained careers for over a decade now prefer the Serena Hotel as the go-to stage for their big shows, Cindy Sanyu continues to take a different path.
After previously filling up Lugogo Cricket Oval in what is remembered as one of the best-attended pre-COVID concerts, many expected her next stop to be Serena. Instead, the self-proclaimed King chose another outdoor venue — the Millennium Grounds Lugogo, which has recently gained popularity as an events hub under Talent Africa Group.
Her Royal Experience concert was staged on a weekend packed with events — Dax Vibez’s maiden concert at UMA Showgrounds and Craig David’s World of Sound show at Sheraton Gardens all happened the same evening. Still, Cindy’s loyal fans, the Cyndicates, turned up in large numbers and kept the energy high from start to finish.
Cindy hit the stage at 10:23 pm, kicking off with a dance-intro set. Just three songs into her performance, a major sound failure left her stranded with dancers for nearly five minutes. She improvised by freestyling and engaging the audience, but with no response from the deejay, she cut short her first session and walked off stage.
Fifteen minutes later, she bounced back stronger — this time with a full live band instead of playback. From that point, the show transformed. She delivered a string of her biggest hits including Mateeka, Sunset, Total Satisfaction, Run The City, Nkooye, and Zalawo.
Her second and third sessions were a showcase of versatility — seamlessly blending dancehall, Afrobeat, and gospel. Cindy took fans on a journey with One and Only, Dilemma (where she nailed Mr G and Bobi Wine’s parts), Onina, Gyptian’s Hold Ya, and the fan-favourite Boom Party. She later gave heartfelt renditions of Pastor Okudi’s Wipolo and Brenda Fassie’s The Lord is My Shepherd.
The night also had surprise reunions and collaborations. She shared the stage with Lilian Mbabazi and Jackie Chandiru for a nostalgic Blu*3 performance of Nsanyuka Nawe. Ziza Bafana hyped the crowd with Sample Dat, Karole Kasita joined her for Mwoto, and Vyper Ranking for Tebimala. She later featured Omega 256, closing the show with their trending collab See You Tonight.
Despite the sound hiccups, Cindy reaffirmed her reputation as one of Uganda’s most commanding live performers — her energy, vocals, and stage presence never faltered. For the fans, it was a royal night well spent. The show was organised by Talent Africa Group, powered by Airtel Uganda and Pilsener King
