Uganda, Land of Musical Greats

Have been thinking lately about Ugandan musicians  and African musicians in general. I think Uganda is gifted greatly with poets and singers especially in the traditional language lineage.

I read a book recently entitled 'One Little Guitar, (Fountain Publishers )by Katherine Barrett-Gaines where she has collected the songs of Paulo Kafeero and tried to translate them into english. She has also tried to document Kafeero's life in art in Uganda and share some aspects of his life.  She has done a commendable and wonderful thing to record for us one of the greatest artistes of Uganda in recent times. Thank you Ms Barrett-Gaines.  Her book should be required reading in the study of  music in Uganda.

Paul Kafeero (1970-2007), Kadongo Kamu Artist, Uganda

Paulo Kafeero. One of Uganda's greatest artistes of all time. We dont know what the earlier artistes were like.  I am sure we had a great many excellent ones, you cannot listen to the luganda old tradition songs and children's songs and not recognize the wonder therein, someone composed those songs and they were sung through time at firesides and in times of joy and sadness. Most of them were passed on through oral history and from family to family.  We thank God for the recent development in that the recordings of our artistes' music can be done for now and for history.
Paulo Kafeero was one of the greatest. When you listen to Walumbe Zaaya  (Death the Great Kidnapper) and Omukazi Ammennya http://www.hipipo.com/radio/117/Prince-Paul-Job-Kafeero/Paul-Kafeero-Omukazi-Amenya (She is Burdening me to death)..my direct translations of the titles,  you cant but wonder. Listen to the music, rhythm and the poetry  and humor in Kafeero's songs, you will recognize his great art and if you can understand the language it will evenbe better, if you cant, his music is still good because music is a language spoken internationally. Thank God for such men and women in Uganda.   Uganda's other great music artistes in my book include. Take some to listen to their music Philly Bongoley Lutaaya (Diana, Born in Africa, Elly Wamala, Geoffrey Oryema, Jimmy Katumba, Judith Babirye, Alex Mukulu, Peterson Mutebi and the Tames and last but not least,  the Great Afrigo Band). If you paste the urls below in the search engines you may be able to listen to some of their music. (The links are not yet working in my browser!)

Philly Bongoley Lutaaya  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92OzxKg_Ubs&feature=fvwrel

 Elly Wamala (Peninah) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfYN_vmSOXc

Geoffrey Oryema (Land of Anaka) http://www.last.fm/music/Geoffrey+Oryema/_/Land+Of+Anaka
http://www.last.fm/music/Geoffrey+Oryema?v=enabled&utm_expid=64146835-2 

 Jimmy Katumba (Congratulations, Twalina Omukwano) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfhiqQI8Qc0

Judith Babirye (Ekitiibwa Kyo Mukama) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHQqsfWJDRo&list=PL34A85EC0AA591A0E&index=9&feature=plpp_video

Alex Mukulu (Bannakampala nga Boogera, Bukedde; Wounds of Africa) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHQqsfWJDRo&list=PL34A85EC0AA591A0E&index=9&feature=plpp_video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUagWdXyhsc

 Peterson Mutebi (Bamulete)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrCeKLGWO6Y

 and of course the great Afrigo Band. ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZDpFKq70Uo

Many of these great men and women are still living and should be celebrated by us all.

Let us celebrate our great Ugandan artistes by going out and buying an original CD or DVD of their music and listening to it. Buy the book about Paulo Kafeero by Barrett Gaines (published by Fountain Publishers)  at a bookshop near you. Happy Listening.
Till then,

from us at Noonya