Lango’s heroic thumb pianist

By Denis OcwichJUST utter the rhythmic name of Julius Morris Sirikinti Ekuka Ogwal Adongo, wherever and whenever, and nobody - not even kids - in Lango will scratch their heads before acknowledging: “hero”.Well, here is a peasant farmer who has already blown 42 candles. A humourous guy for that matter, he has set himself far and wide, not for academic or political excellence. But for unique skills in coining traditional songs.Not a schooled bloke. Nope. But just an earnestly thoughtful male human being, naturally gifted with three assets; a distinctly sweet-smooth tenor, a poetic mind and elegant thumbs for pressing down the metallic rods of a thumb piano.For the last 30 years or so, he has composed and played 70 songs, most of them sensitising people on prevalent social issues — health, environment, education, taxation, peace, and the like.“He is a naturally creative man. Like a cartoonist, you just tell him the idea of a message and he comes out with a pretty song,” says Godman Okonye, a lecturer at the Luo Department, Makerere University Institute of Languages.Over the years, many people, including local leaders and NGOs have successfully banked on the local artist to convey their public information campaigns in Luo.Outstanding songs have been carried messages on AIDS, girl child education, graduated tax and immunisation.The fact that Ekuka — a P.3 dropout from Abia P.7 School in Lira — does not speak English, has never stymied his prolific informal career. His fluency in Lango has been the treasure.Displaying his trademark French cut hairstyle, and an artificial gap running from the upper to the lower jaw, the dark-skinned man quips: “My songs are for peace and development. I want harmony in society.”Ekuka’s artistic ability has more to do with the plight he endured during childhood. Owing to the death of his father Samwiri Ogwal (a rural farmer) in 1967, he had to drop out of primary three, and lead a hopeless life.“The problem I have gone through as an orphan is what motivated me to go in for singing,” argues Ekuka, with a winsome smile. Besides, he believes he inherited the skills from his father who was a folklore dancer.A father of two, the local vocalist’s mastery of traditional music has lifted him to the fame among Luo speakers, especially the Langi. Often, people who want entertainment or communication through local music have followed Ekuka up to his village in Oteno, Apala sub-county in Lira district.“If it’s about local music, there is no one who beats me,” he boasts. He is a man who has won the hearts of most, if not all the Langi who hold him in high esteem.As far away as in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo, local FM stations there are said to be airing Ekuka’s popular albums, especially one blockbuster titled: Richard which is about a notorious graduated tax defaulter.Even to President Museveni and some ministers, Ekuka is well known. To the locals, he is an undisputed darling.“So far I have got four new bicycles given to me as prizes for good works,” he reveals. One of the bicycles was handed to him by the Ministry of Local Government when he produced an appealing song on the need to pay graduated tax. “After the song, I was exempted from paying graduated tax,” says the articulate and humourous man who graduated from a grass-thatched hut to a four-bed-room mabati house, all courtesy of his musical talents.Last year, with a sh500,000 contract from Actionaid Uganda (a local NGO), he recorded an album comprising seven songs on the girl child education. On July 22, he was on stage at Makerere University Main Hall, to entertain Women’s World’s 2002 Congress delegates. And he sparkled, although the foreign delegates were disappointed that they could not understand the Lango language in which he sang.Interestingly, the vocalist, who is addicted to Kaunda Suits and safari boots, as well as an Omax wrist watch, cannot single out the most popular song he has ever released.“Since they are all mine, I think they are all good,” he maintains.From the local FM stations to the home receivers in northern Uganda generally, but particularly in Lango, his music blares time and again to tickle the audience of all categories.As he continues to carry the flag of Lango traditional songs, Ekuka has big plans. “I hope to move to greater heights,” he assures. For now, he has teamed up with a few peasants under the “Lango Okeme Band” name.