Didi’s Banyakitara out with Luganda album
Nov 14, 2003
If ever Didi (that's really his name) Mugisa and his group Banyakitara ever make it to the top of the music industry in Uganda, it would have been a remarkable journey.
By Kalungi Kabuye
If ever Didi (that's really his name) Mugisa and his group Banyakitara ever make it to the top of the music industry in Uganda, it would have been a remarkable journey.
It would be a journey that began in the rather un-enviable confines of the Bunyoro royal household, long before they got their ebyaife back.
Didi is the eldest son of the daughter of Omukama Iguru's sister, the Batebe of Bunyoro. Although his father is not a royal, he largely grew up in the Iguru household or his sister's.
That is where he has come from to the world of music, and he announces his entry with an album entitled Kampala, recorded together with his partner in the group, Hassan (call me Harstler) Ssekindo.
According to Didi, who came to The New Vision to announce the release of the title song, he has supplied the CD to all the major FM stations, and should expect some air-play soon.
“Kampala is sang in Luganda, and it is a celebration of all that is good in Kampala,†he said. “It is about our society, celebrating, partying and generally having a good time.†Why is a group named Banyakitara singing in Luganda? “We actually sing in several languages, including Runyoro, Swahili and English, Didi said. “Luganda is just one of the languages we sing in.â€
After a quick first listening to the CD, it is clear Kampala is not the most impressive of the tracks, and in fact it might just pass by quietly as so many first efforts have.
But the third track on the album, Mulokoni, will definitely stay with you long after its sounds have died out. A fusion of the South African late 80s beat, and with a taint of the latter day Kwaito, the song is sang in several languages and is all about that very Ugandan delicacy of ‘cow hooves.’
Written by Harstler and produced by Didi at the True Vine studios, it has a catchy, danceable beat that just might be the breakthrough these lads of the Kitara kingdom have been looking for since 1997, and complete the move from palace to the Kampala airwaves.
Ends
If ever Didi (that's really his name) Mugisa and his group Banyakitara ever make it to the top of the music industry in Uganda, it would have been a remarkable journey.
It would be a journey that began in the rather un-enviable confines of the Bunyoro royal household, long before they got their ebyaife back.
Didi is the eldest son of the daughter of Omukama Iguru's sister, the Batebe of Bunyoro. Although his father is not a royal, he largely grew up in the Iguru household or his sister's.
That is where he has come from to the world of music, and he announces his entry with an album entitled Kampala, recorded together with his partner in the group, Hassan (call me Harstler) Ssekindo.
According to Didi, who came to The New Vision to announce the release of the title song, he has supplied the CD to all the major FM stations, and should expect some air-play soon.
“Kampala is sang in Luganda, and it is a celebration of all that is good in Kampala,†he said. “It is about our society, celebrating, partying and generally having a good time.†Why is a group named Banyakitara singing in Luganda? “We actually sing in several languages, including Runyoro, Swahili and English, Didi said. “Luganda is just one of the languages we sing in.â€
After a quick first listening to the CD, it is clear Kampala is not the most impressive of the tracks, and in fact it might just pass by quietly as so many first efforts have.
But the third track on the album, Mulokoni, will definitely stay with you long after its sounds have died out. A fusion of the South African late 80s beat, and with a taint of the latter day Kwaito, the song is sang in several languages and is all about that very Ugandan delicacy of ‘cow hooves.’
Written by Harstler and produced by Didi at the True Vine studios, it has a catchy, danceable beat that just might be the breakthrough these lads of the Kitara kingdom have been looking for since 1997, and complete the move from palace to the Kampala airwaves.
Ends