For once, Kampala’s millennials followed the dress code. On Saturday afternoon at Canary Gardens, white and khaki dominated the grounds as thousands turned up for the Millennials Picnic. For a generation that has spent years treating dress codes as polite suggestions, the commitment to the theme was almost as remarkable as the turnout. The parking lot was packed to the brim. Outside the entrance, the queue seemed unwilling to shorten, stretching as more people arrived for what had become one of Kampala’s most anticipated nostalgia-driven parties. It was clear that people had missed this. Not necessarily the partying, but the songs that came with it; the music that defined school days, university years, first loves, heartbreaks and the carefree years before adulthood became quite so serious. Inside, the picnic quickly became a celebration of memory. From Boyz II Men to 2000s-era Jose Chameleone, the crowd sang with the confidence of people who had been waiting for years to hear these songs in the company of others who remembered them too. From one DJ to the next, the musical agenda remained firmly rooted in the era that raised the audience There was little room for the newest viral sound or an extended Amapiano set. As MC Kats repeatedly reminded the crowd, this was apparently the one party in Kampala where Amapiano would not be making an appearance, and whistles were not welcome either. The joke worked, because the audience understood exactly what they had come for. The appeal of nostalgia-led events in Kampala has grown considerably in recent years, with experiences such as Old School RnB Brunch and Strictly Soul drawing audiences around familiar music and shared memories. The Millennials Picnic took that idea outdoors, creating a space where music became less of a performance and more of a communal experience. Kenneth Mugabi and Naava Grey were central to that experience. Both artistes delivered semi-acoustic sets that were minimalist in arrangement but strong enough to hold the attention of a crowd that had already been dancing for hours. Naava Grey drew from a catalogue that has become deeply familiar to Ugandan audiences, performing songs such as Sokalami, Ninga Omuloge and Nteredde. But it was her collaboration with Mugabi on Owuwo that really lifted the energy, bringing the audience to its feet. Mugabi took a more precise route through his catalogue, drawing largely from his second album while incorporating a few mashups from his first. In an unusual opening move, he began with Muvubuka, before moving into love songs including Nkwegomba, Kibun’omu, Wammanyiiza, Under Wraps and later, Naki. Mugabi has a particular effect on his female audience, as evidenced on Saturday. As he sang, women raised their glasses and attempted to sing along. Even the drinks fitted naturally into that atmosphere. Powered by Baileys and Tusker Cider it was a fitting combination for a picnic that seemed to understand that the experience was never going to be about music alone. atiluknathan@gmail.comThe post Mugabi, Naava Grey lead millennials’ party appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.