BY ESTHER MUTURI
The Ugandan dance troupe Ghetto Kids made history this year by earning a golden buzzer on April 17th but unfortunately did not return home with a crown and missed out on the top three slots at the last stage of Britain’s Got Talent completion on Sunday.
The golden buzzer got them straight to the Semi-Finals where they got the most votes, securing them a spot in the finals.
The group of kids aged between six and thirteen came from impoverished backgrounds in Uganda’s capital Kampala. They were taken in and cared for by their guardian-turned-managed Dauda Kavuma.
The dance group of six gave an outstanding performance in the finals on Sunday, which bore peerless energy and radiated the auditorium at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, United Kingdom.
The dance group competed against 9 other finalists and delivered an outstanding performance but they were defeated by comedian Viggo Venn, who won £250,000 (Ksh.43 million).
Lilliana Clifton, a 13-year-old dancer, finished second, and Cillian O’Connor, a 14-year-old magician, finished third.
The kids took to social media to thank the show for the opportunity to perform on a global stage, as well as their fans who supported them throughout the 3-week competition.
They also thanked God who brought them to where they are now and the Britain’s Got Talent team who gave them the chance to showcase their talents on the stage for the world to see.
Comments showing love and giving lots of congratulations were filled below the Tweet.
Ghetto Kids is a group of 30 children who live in an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda.
Kavuma Dauda, the orphanage’s director, stated that his goal is to “improve their lives through music, dance, and drama.”
“Ghetto kids is all about making their lives better through paying their school fees, feeding them, [paying] hospital bills, all the basic needs that a child wants,” he said in a montage played before the golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent performance.
The kids rose to prominence in 2014 when they appeared in Eddy Kenzo’s Sitya Loss song, and then skyrocketed to global prominence in 2017 when they appeared in French Montana’s hit song Unforgettable.
They have since performed on international stages such as the BET Awards and the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
During their brief visit to the UK, they also met football legend Rio Ferdinand.