Easter worship songs are well known. What isn’t is perhaps the people who composed these songs. 

New Vision scanned its archives to get the local composers who make your Easter full with praise.

Fr Dr James Kabuye

The Rev Fr Dr James Kabuye (85), a priest of the Roman Catholic diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana is generally acknowledged as the most prolific and influential Ugandan Church musician.

Kabuye is versatile in terms of genre. He wrote Easter songs in various styles. Some of his songs also blend the western (classical) and local folk musical elements.

One of Kabuye’s most prominent songs is Alifuga Ensi Yonna (Jesus will reign over the universe).

Many music critics have acknowledged this song to be one of the best songs, if not the most beautiful song that Kabuye has ever written.

The song has a vigorous introduction, which brings out the notion of Jesus’ supremacy with utmost effect.

Kabuye introduces stunning polyphonies, which pitch up as the song progresses.

The song is rich with passing notes and rhyming relics, which are typical of most of Kabuye’s musical works.

One particular wonder of this song is its arrangement. It has no stanzas. Its melody also flows differently, from beginning to end. No chord or aspect of melody and harmony is repeated.

The song’s pitch also keeps ascending as it progresses to its climax.

Further to projecting the kingship of Jesus, which manifested on Easter, the song Alifuga Ensi Yonna also displays Kabuye’s musical virtuosity and creativity.

Also admirable among Kabuye’s Easter repertoire is the song Azuukidde Alleluia (Luganda for he is risen, Alleluia), which is actually a narrative of the experience of Mary Magdalena at the empty tomb (John 20:1-18).

Kabuye gave the song a slow country-walk motion, which helps the singer/listener to meditate and internalise the events of Easter.

Kabuye also wrote songs like Azuukidde kulwaddirira Ssabbaato, Alleluia Yezu Azuukidde, Abakristu Mutendereze Akaliga, Mpulira Eddoboozi ly’Omukama and Walumbe Baakumala Empapala, which ridicule death as they proclaim Jesus’ victory.

Joseph Kyagambiddwa

The Late Joseph Kyagambiddwa, a legendary local musicologist who hailed from Masaka, wrote his Easter songs in the typical Ganda traditional musical genre.

His repertoire includes songs like Asula Wa Yezu Kristu Bweyazuukira (where does Christ live subsequent to his resurrection?), Yezu Eyafa Luli (Jesus who died the other day has resurrected), Tuli mu ssanyu and Agenda Omulungi Yezu. 

Kyagambiddwa’s songs are spiced with the thunderous Baakisimba muwogola drum-vibes, which bring out well the celebratory nature of the Easter season.

Professor Simeon Kayiwa

Prof Simeon Kayiwa, the Pastor of Namirembe Christian Fellowship wrote Easter songs like I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Basuula Yesu Ku Musaalaba (they crucified Jesus on the cross), Y’alinnya akasozi ng’akaaba, Ab’omu nsi ensonga zebazza zaakoma, Kale Laba Omukwano Gwe and Ntidde ku kasozi eriyo omusajja bamukukbye. Kayiwa did his songs in poetic acapella, which enhances their beauty and clarity.

Engineer Wassanyi Sserukenya

The late Engineer Wassanyi Sserukenya did not write many Easter songs.

Interestingly, his song Ssimumanyi (Luganda for I don’t know him) is considered to be one of the most loved Easter hymns.

The song, which is in a conversational form, is based on John 18:13-27.

It has three sections: Peter’s masking, his denial of Jesus and the consolation and joy that prevailed after the resurrection of Jesus.

Sserukenya skillfully blends the Kiganda rhythm with western harmonies to produce affective results.

The audience clearly feels the tense mood as it prevailed when Peter was denying Jesus, and, the sorrow that overtook him when the cock crowed.

Sserukenya employed onomatopoeic lyrics to make the respective biblical situations more real.

The sounds of the cock that crowed three times after Peter denied Jesus are very vivid in the song.

Likewise, the joy/consolation that people got when Jesus resurrected is also well projected by the xylophone-like vocals, which he arranged in the last section of the song.

Msgr Expedito Magembe

The Rt Rev Msgr Expedito Magembe of Mount Zion Prayer Centre, Bukalango, wrote Easter songs like Tulangirira Amawulire (Luganda for we are proclaiming the glad tidings of Jesus’ resurrection), Kristu Paska Yaffe (Christ our Pascal Sacrifice), Kiki Ekirituggya Ku Kristu, Kristu Azuukidde, and, Tutendereze Akaliga.

Magembe spiced his songs with the Ganda Bakisimba muwogola vibe, which gives them a celebratory character.

Fr Dr Joseph Namukangula

Rev Fr Dr James Namukangula (82), currently a teacher at Bukalasa Minor Seminary (Kalungu district) wrote his Easter songs in the western (classical) and Ganda traditional musical genres.

His repertoire includes Azuukidde Awangudde (master piece), Okulangirira Paska (Luganda for announcing Easter), E Galilaaya gyemulimusanga (you will find him in Galilee), Avuddeyo e Magombe, O Yezu nga olumwa nnyo (Luganda translation of Bach’s O Sacred Heads Once Wounded) and Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani (passion song based on Matthew 27: 45-46).

Engineer Emmanuel Mwesigwa

The Rev Engineer Emmanuel Mwesigwa, the Anglican Chaplain of St Kakumba Chaplaincy, Kyambogo University, has composed several hymns and contemporary gospel songs that carry themes of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection.

He also organizes special Easter Services, during which he awards choirs and individual musical ministers.

Msgr Bonaventure Kasaija Amooti

The late Msgr Bonaventure Kasaija Amooti, who was a Catholic priest of Fort Portal Diocese, wrote his Easter songs in Runyoro-Rutooro.

They include: Kristo Akatambwa Nk’ekyonzira (Christ was sacrificed as an offering), Kurra Kwaki (why the weeping), Kristo Emanzi asiingwire ira (Christ the hero has already won), Christ nuwe Kyererezi Kyenganda (Christ the light of the nations) and Mwebingwa Ohaangaale (the comforter).

Fr Anthony Musaala

Fr Anthony Musaala (a priest of Kampala Archdiocese) wrote several Easter hymns in musical genres like reggae, rock and roll, techno and afro.

One of his most known song is Azukidde (he is risen), which starts in rhumba before climaxing in the Ndombolo style of the Congolese. Musaala’s songs generally have a character of jubilant praise, which enhance the joy of Easter.

Fr Dr Anthony Okello

Further to composing songs in his native Acholi language, the late Fr Dr Anthony Okello also re-arranged and harmonized the Easter hymns of the White Fathers, which include among others the popular song, Yezu Leero Asinze.