Entertainment through times

 

By Jude Katende
Music in Uganda has come a long way. In the 60s and 70s was rumba, pop, calypso while the 80s and 90s have had Kadongokamu, Lingala, Afro-beat, zouk, ragga, reggae, hip-hop, rhythm and blues and gospel music genres. From the gramophones, LPs to radio cassettes/tapes and now CDs, VCDs and DVDs, music has been celebrated in all forms. Besides the transition, Uganda has also lost several luminaries who were pertinent to shaping the country’s music course, inspiring many of the musicians who are loved today. These include Eclas Kawalya, Peterson Mutebi, Carol Nakimera, Sarah Birungi and Elly Wamala among others.

Some of the many existing and defunct bands formed in the 80s, 90s and 2000s have been linked to the fallen artistes. Some members of Afrigo Band, Uganda’s oldest band, worked closely with Philly Lutaaya whereas the late 80s through the 90s todate many bands have had inspiration from Herman Basudde and Livingstone Kasozi (for kadongokamu), Umaru Katumba (especially Eagles Production, then as Gebros) and Jimmy Katumba with The Ebonies influencing bands such as Diamonds, Eagles and KADS among the dozens Uganda boasts of today.

 

Wamala was one of those
inspiring musicians

Clubs:

Previously Suzanna, Topaz, Tropicana 110, White Nile, Club Pulsations, and Club Clouds (Echoes) on Nkrumah road were some of the night spots that ruled Kampala. Jinja bustled with Sailing Club, Town Hall and Dam Waters. Entebbe had Resort Beach Hotel among others, while Mbale had Elgonia Discotheque. Some spots are not as active as they used to be and others have closed or changed hands.

Bwaise’s Lion’s Discotheque was recently claimed by the northern bypass construction whereas Banda’s Ecstasy is now a church. Ange Noir Disco-thèque and Club Silk have persisted and expanded to accommodate new clients. The millennium has seen a sporadic wave of new spots like Club Bristol in Nateete, Volts and Imbecap in Kibuye, Vees Club in Bakuli, The Basement (former Viper Room) and Club Champagne on Nasser road.

The National Theatre since 1989 has been home to artistes every Monday evening as they play live music at the Jam session. Though meant to raise funds for the artistes in hard times, several other sessions have developed elsewhere for individual artistes’ gain. 1998 saw the emergence of street bashes and carnivores where revellers dance the night away on the streets.

Miming music (karaoke) has ironically contributed to Uganda’s budding entertainment scene. Taken as a pastime where fun seekers gather to listen to croaky voices, such sessions have produced award winning artistes. Like karaoke, several talent searches like the Coca Cola Pop stars, Real stars with Capital Radio and currently Project Fame among others have unearthed many stars.

Like bands, dance groups have sprouted and helped employ many would be job-seekers although with fierce competition some have degenerated into strip shows (kimansulo).

Hussein Shukery, the proprietor Volts Discotheque says the industry has greatly changed, “Back then in the 80s, people were banned from wearing mini skirts, yet today they are in vogue.”

The government’s liberalisation of radio stations has contributed a lot too. Whereas previously Congolese music ruled, today Ugandans prefer local music. Artistes have capitalised on this and now stage concerts every weekend. Just four years old, the inception of the Pearl of Africa Music Awards has turned tables. Artistes now shoot videos that were previously shunned. Every October, socialites look forward to the glamourous event that has helped bring together artistes of different regions.

Some western, eastern and northern artistes have become household names because of the awards. With the local scene becoming vibrant, unscrupulous people have taken to music piracy. But with the copyright law’s recent enforcement, several artistes through their Music Forum Foundation (MFF) have vowed to fight the vice.

“We want to make money and live well through music,” Richard Kaweesa, MFF’s president said. He said creative people are rich because their rights are protected unlike Ugandan artistes. MFF’s objective is to transform music into a respectable and organised industry. Registered as a fully-owned and run Ugandan NGO, MFF comprises recording artistes, instrumentalists, songwriters and music producers with 446 musicians countrywide and some industry stakeholders. Intellectual rights protection is a worthy cause that will certainly push and transform this budding industry further.