“Shela phela sazane kangcono… Aw’ shela phela… ayayayaii…”
The words rang through 1420 in Bugolobi as partygoers sang along to one of Boohle’s biggest hits, bringing a high-energy finish to Don Julio’s Summer Active Party on Sunday, September 20.
The South African Amapiano star lived up to the hype, delivering a performance that had the crowd dancing, singing word-for-word and soaking up the atmosphere as the second edition of the Summer Active Party moved from a relaxed afternoon into a lively night of music, tequila and celebration.
Guests began arriving as early as 3pm, settling into reserved tables and easing into the afternoon over food, drinks and conversation before the energy gradually picked up.
Don Julio was at the heart of the experience, with guests enjoying the tequila in different forms, from cocktails such as the Reposado Negroni to bottle serves of Don Julio Reposado, Blanco, Añejo and the premium 1942.
For those looking to capture the moment, an oversized sombrero provided one of the party’s most popular photo spots, with guests taking turns posing against the striking installation.
The music kept the atmosphere moving throughout the day. Don Julio Core Ambassador DJ Dash and Etania opened proceedings with solo sets before a series of back-to-back sessions featuring Selector Jay alongside DJ Ssese and DJ Ames teaming up with City Girl.
Their sets moved effortlessly across hip-hop, Amapiano, R&B and classic hits, giving the crowd plenty to sing, dance and lip-sync along to.
But the real turning point came when Boohle took the stage.
From her arrival at the airport, the singer had promised Ugandans a memorable experience, and her performance delivered on that promise. The moment she appeared, the energy at 1420 shifted, with fans immediately rushing toward the stage and singing along to familiar songs.
She worked through crowd favourites including Pillow Talk, Ngibambe Duze, Shela and Woza, turning the venue into one giant singalong.
“This is awesome. This is what a real party should look and feel like. The tequila set the perfect mood. The music, the DJ line-up and Boohle’s performance have all been on point,” said Cynthia, one of the revelers.
For Judie Nandekya, Senior Brand Manager for Tequila and Rum, the event demonstrated the kind of premium experiences Don Julio seeks to create for its consumers.
“As Don Julio, we value the experiences we give our consumers. This has been an awesome experience. We thank our Don Julio Core Ambassador DJ Dash for choosing to partner with us and 1420 to deliver the second edition of the Summer Active Party, which our guests clearly loved. We hope this is one of the many great experiences ahead,” she said.
By the time the final beats faded, 1420 had already been transformed into a social-media highlight, with guests filling their Snapchat and Instagram stories with clips from Boohle’s performance, cocktails, fashion moments and the party atmosphere.