Natty Dread To Visit Uganda
WILL the real Natty Dread please stand up? He is a small man, about 5ft 5inches tall, with dreadlocks reaching down to his lower back.
By Kalungi Kabuye
WILL the real Natty Dread please stand up? He is a small man, about 5ft 5inches tall, with dreadlocks reaching down to his lower back. He claims the name Natty Dread was given to him by the legendary Bob Marley and insists he has performed with some of the most prominent reggae artists of all time.
Dread plans to come to Kampala in December to perform several concerts.
“I consider myself a disciple of Bob Marley and play the same kind of music, that is roots, rock reggae,†he told The New Vision.
“Many people who have heard and seen me performing on stage consider me Bob Marley’s brother. This December I intend to bring back the real reggae to Uganda.â€
Natty Dread, whose name is Narcisse Raphael Mitali, is of Rwandan origin but based in Germany. In 1995 he was part of several reggae artists that performed at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel. Others included Cedella Booker Marley, the mother of Bob Marley and popular Jamaican artist Iqulah.
Natty has also performed along with other reggae musicians like Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dube, and Manu di Bango. In 1998, he toured Europe with the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley, and the I-Threes.
Natty was on a visit to Uganda after a successful tour of Rwanda and Burundi, where he performed with South Africa’s Brenda Fassie and Rwanda’s Belgium-based Cecile Kayiraba.
He is presently trying to finalise arrangements with local promoters who will organise his concerts.
Dread says he was here to re-establish ‘spirituality’ among Ugandans through music.
“Most music these days is about fornicating, which is dangerous with AIDS prevalent,†he says.
“There is this belief that sex sells, I do not agree. We have to create peace among our people, then Africa will survive,â€he adds.Ends
WILL the real Natty Dread please stand up? He is a small man, about 5ft 5inches tall, with dreadlocks reaching down to his lower back. He claims the name Natty Dread was given to him by the legendary Bob Marley and insists he has performed with some of the most prominent reggae artists of all time.
Dread plans to come to Kampala in December to perform several concerts.
“I consider myself a disciple of Bob Marley and play the same kind of music, that is roots, rock reggae,†he told The New Vision.
“Many people who have heard and seen me performing on stage consider me Bob Marley’s brother. This December I intend to bring back the real reggae to Uganda.â€
Natty Dread, whose name is Narcisse Raphael Mitali, is of Rwandan origin but based in Germany. In 1995 he was part of several reggae artists that performed at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel. Others included Cedella Booker Marley, the mother of Bob Marley and popular Jamaican artist Iqulah.
Natty has also performed along with other reggae musicians like Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dube, and Manu di Bango. In 1998, he toured Europe with the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley, and the I-Threes.
Natty was on a visit to Uganda after a successful tour of Rwanda and Burundi, where he performed with South Africa’s Brenda Fassie and Rwanda’s Belgium-based Cecile Kayiraba.
He is presently trying to finalise arrangements with local promoters who will organise his concerts.
Dread says he was here to re-establish ‘spirituality’ among Ugandans through music.
“Most music these days is about fornicating, which is dangerous with AIDS prevalent,†he says.
“There is this belief that sex sells, I do not agree. We have to create peace among our people, then Africa will survive,â€he adds.Ends