Bobi Wine released and ready for Rebel Salute
Published:Thursday | January 9, 2020 | 12:00 AMYasmine Peru/Gleaner Writer
Ugandan pop star-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi best known by his stage name Bobi Wine, has been released from detention and continues to make plans to come to Jamaica later this month for the annual roots reggae festival, Rebel Salute.
“Bobi is out of jail and is coming to Jamaica. He is making preparations. He will be there,” David Rukiri, a member of his legal team, shared with The Gleaner.
On Monday night, Bobi Wine tweeted: “As usual, these cowards have released us in the deep of the night. These illegal injustices only make us stronger, but most importantly reveal to us how scared the regime is of We The People. Stronger. Thank You All For Standing. Aluta continua.”
Rebel Salute founder Tony Rebel said he spoke to Bobi Wine the day before he was arrested and the musician is looking forward to the festival. “He is back by popular demand,” an elated Rebel told The Gleaner. “When we brought him last year, nobody knew him, but by the end of his set, he got a standing ovation. He used the Rebel Salute platform to talk to his people and they listened. His performance had the highest number of views for the night.”
BIG THREAT
Police in Uganda on Monday arrested 37-year-old Bobi Wine, an opposition legislator who is seen as a big threat to Uganda’s President, Yoweri Musevini. The singer, who is said to be particularly popular among young Ugandans, was scheduled to begin, on Monday, a week-long series of consultations ahead of the 2021 presidential poll. Protesters reportedly set alight car tyres and blocked roads, while police, backed by firefighters, armoured cars and water cannon, used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Tony Rebel recalled that when Bobi Wine returned to his home in Uganda last year, after performing on Rebel Salute, he was detained. “It’s normal for him to be arrested,” Rebel said simply. “We are looking forward to hearing what he has to say when he comes to Jamaica this time around. Who knows, next time we see him, he may even be president of Uganda.”
Presented by the Organic HEART Group of Companies, Rebel Salute, the annual two-day music festival, takes place January 17 and 18, at the Grizzly’s Plantation Cove, Priory, St Ann. Tony Rebel boasted that there will be “over eight hours of hit songs on each night”. Among the performers this year are Steel Pulse, Toots & The Maytals, Sanchez, Beenie Man, Bobi Wine, Terry Linen, Tony Rebel, Kenyatta Hill, Chi Ching Ching, Papa Michigan, Singing Melody, Flourgon, Lone Ranger, Jermaine Edwards, Chronic Law, George Nooks, Anthony B, The Meditations, Queen Ifrica, Mortimer, Jesse Royal, I-Wayne, Louie Culture, Lady G, Mikey Spice, Jack Scorpio, Steven Blake, Imeru Tafari, Hopeton James, Rhoda Isabella, Leba Hibbert, Benjy Myaz, Mischief, Dynamq Sound and Tafasta.