Mbale artistes come of age at PAM Awards
Jun 10, 2008
Mbale is a wet place so the likelihood that it would rain heavily during the Bell Lager Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards was high. But somehow no one was prepared for it.
By Sebidde Kiryowa
and Jude Katende
Mbale is a wet place so the likelihood that it would rain heavily during the Bell Lager Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards was high. But somehow no one was prepared for it.
The skies suddenly gave way to a torrent of rain that dominated the better part of the evening, forcing the organisers of the eastern launch at Mbale Resort last Saturday night to call off the concert
But the rain soon came to a halt and the concert was back on. The organisers then sought, with relative success, to kick-start the show with a colourful fireworks display.
The show kicked off in earnest after 9:45pm and from the get-go, the artistes rocked the shivers out of the revellers. That, however, is not the sole reason they were impressive. It is because they were spot-on.
The PAM Awards regional launches are meant to expose upcountry talent. However, like the case was in Fort Portal, most artistes who perform tend to sing in Luganda rather than showcase their talent in their local dialects. Reason? As Jabel Wamboka aka Senior Scorpion, put it: “Local radio stations in Mbale despise music sung in Lumasaba, preferring to play Luganda music because it is commercial and popular.â€
Dr. Pinnan, another Mbale-based artiste said the problem was compounded by poor production. “Most of our artistes record from cheap and poor studios. It’s hard for radio stations to accept poor sound quality.â€
Fortunately , as Gogo Joe, another Lumasaba artiste pointed out, this trend is changing especially since the inception of the PAM regional launches : “We have witnessed a slow but sure change in the way radio stations are treating our music in the past two years,†he said. His claim was evident that night. Although a number of Mbale-based artistes sang in Luganda, a big number sang in Lumasaba or mixed the two languages. The sound quality too was notably better.
Trouble East Zone, an R&B quartet dressed in traditional Gisu garb, wowed the crowd with Kadodi and Imbalu as did Yusuf Wamimbi aka Mac Ten with Igulao. Senior Scorpion did Watwa, Namirembe and Tugende.
Brostars, a Lumasaba ensemble were exemplary in blending their kadodi beats with other influences to create a palatable sound in songs like Inyukahasi; Nkuwebosekina and Bana Mbale. Others included Tibs Morris & Red Man, Jeff Titan, Sammy Cool, and Ambassador Ssali.
As usual, however, the crowd-pullers had to be in the mix. This time they came in the form of Kampala-based mainstream artistes General Mega Dee, Phina “Masanyalaze†Mugerwa, Tool Man, Prisca Mikami, Grace Nakimera and The Stingerz dancers. These entertained the crowd the most.
WBS
TV Showtime host Straka Mwezi and Record TV’s Babirye were the mistresses of ceremonies.
and Jude Katende
Mbale is a wet place so the likelihood that it would rain heavily during the Bell Lager Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards was high. But somehow no one was prepared for it.
The skies suddenly gave way to a torrent of rain that dominated the better part of the evening, forcing the organisers of the eastern launch at Mbale Resort last Saturday night to call off the concert
But the rain soon came to a halt and the concert was back on. The organisers then sought, with relative success, to kick-start the show with a colourful fireworks display.
The show kicked off in earnest after 9:45pm and from the get-go, the artistes rocked the shivers out of the revellers. That, however, is not the sole reason they were impressive. It is because they were spot-on.
The PAM Awards regional launches are meant to expose upcountry talent. However, like the case was in Fort Portal, most artistes who perform tend to sing in Luganda rather than showcase their talent in their local dialects. Reason? As Jabel Wamboka aka Senior Scorpion, put it: “Local radio stations in Mbale despise music sung in Lumasaba, preferring to play Luganda music because it is commercial and popular.â€
Dr. Pinnan, another Mbale-based artiste said the problem was compounded by poor production. “Most of our artistes record from cheap and poor studios. It’s hard for radio stations to accept poor sound quality.â€
Fortunately , as Gogo Joe, another Lumasaba artiste pointed out, this trend is changing especially since the inception of the PAM regional launches : “We have witnessed a slow but sure change in the way radio stations are treating our music in the past two years,†he said. His claim was evident that night. Although a number of Mbale-based artistes sang in Luganda, a big number sang in Lumasaba or mixed the two languages. The sound quality too was notably better.
Trouble East Zone, an R&B quartet dressed in traditional Gisu garb, wowed the crowd with Kadodi and Imbalu as did Yusuf Wamimbi aka Mac Ten with Igulao. Senior Scorpion did Watwa, Namirembe and Tugende.
Brostars, a Lumasaba ensemble were exemplary in blending their kadodi beats with other influences to create a palatable sound in songs like Inyukahasi; Nkuwebosekina and Bana Mbale. Others included Tibs Morris & Red Man, Jeff Titan, Sammy Cool, and Ambassador Ssali.
As usual, however, the crowd-pullers had to be in the mix. This time they came in the form of Kampala-based mainstream artistes General Mega Dee, Phina “Masanyalaze†Mugerwa, Tool Man, Prisca Mikami, Grace Nakimera and The Stingerz dancers. These entertained the crowd the most.
WBS
TV Showtime host Straka Mwezi and Record TV’s Babirye were the mistresses of ceremonies.