Music Review: Hand Made Triumph (Album) – Viboyo Oweyo

Mar 30, 2024

You can tell why Viboyo is held in such high regard. The album is creative, and diverse in its highly stylistic approach. The outro was a little off - putting with its melodrama (like the intro) but either way, this is some excellent work. 

Music Review: Hand Made Triumph (Album) – Viboyo Oweyo

Dennis Asiimwe
Journalist @New Vision

First things first – it is not often that Ugandan artistes drop an actual album so hats off to Viboyo for putting in the work.

I haven’t come across his work a lot, so I really have no context for this. If you include the intro and outro, it is a 16-track album.

The intro is a little melodramatic, slightly over the top, but it does get your attention. This is no fresh kid new to these streets and there is a seasoned feel to his material.

I loved the optimism of Omulungi, and Embozi Ya Makanga sounds like a tribute to Lugaflow as a genre. Tugende Yo is a particularly delightful and unpredictable sound, proving he is not afraid to experiment, and was probably my standout track from the get go.

Chop Life is another successful experiment, where he dabbles with house (the Luganda hook had my eyebrows raised) while Kantoloze is an energised, frenetic street anthem.

Love the production on Bother Me – the flow is unlike anything I have heard with Lugaflow here. He features Tushi Polo, whose delivery is pretty sleek as well as the impeccable Spyda MC – this was another favourite for me.

Dear Bestie starts off like a love song – the retro style works here, to the point that you can see what they were going for, and that is a great hook. Julius Sese features on this, and his cameo is fantastic.

After Midnight features A Pass and has his fingerprints all over it, and I could swear that’s him on the hook.

Benon Mugumbya features on Ebaluwa Ya Mutabani, a heartfelt track and nails that hook and then some.

I found the reggaesque She Badder a little plain, while Emergency was an enthusiastic, breath of fresh air, even though that dancehall groove was as simplistic as it gets.

Kalungi Solomon and Faith Birungi feature on the brilliant Bigweere Eyo, another street anthem that packs infectious enthusiasm.

Malaika is an intriguing idea with a great, choral hook – you don’t come across those too often, while the Gyembadde’s theme is a sour stirring entry.

As you may have noticed, I listened to the entire album – my editor mentioned that Viboyo did not seem too enthusiastic about a review from me because I often show my teeth.

But either way, I enjoyed this album – Viboyo’s street cred is well earned. You can tell why he is held in such high regard. The album is creative, and diverse in its highly stylistic approach. The outro was a little off - putting with its melodrama (like the intro) but either way, this is some excellent work.

 

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