Centenary Choir glows

By Cynthia Nankumba The year has faded and the carols ended. It is January 1, 2002. We are comfortably seated in Jehovah’s house on a Tuesday afternoon awaiting a final send off of the old year.It is 4.20pm. From the entrance of Christ the King Church comes the thrilling voices of a 30-member choir, singing to puncture their vocal cords and rip open their throats in acknowledgement of a king’s birth. Though the hooting of passing vehicles and noise from passers- by is a little destructing, action in Church continues.The Catholic Centenary Memorial Choir (CACEMCHO) majestically matches into the Church in a procession and spreads out at the front to the audience’s applause. The ladies’ yellow gomesi and the choir’s yellow files light up the otherwise dull atmosphere. The gentlemen appear comfortable in their spotless white lengthy kanzus and black coats.The choir then goes full blast with Lo He Comes, which calls for the adoration of Christ. The zeal, with which David Willcocks’ classical is sang, is enough to reform a pagan heart and humble a troubled soul. A soloist then leads the choir with Zion hears, which calls for jubilation at a king’s birth. The melody makes me nostalgic about Christmas. Breaking from the western classics, the choir honours us with Abeera wa omukyala, a home-made Luganda piece and Bin Emmanuel, Polly Ochola’s Acholi composition. Deafening cheers rock the Church. Some members of the congregation are almost popping out of their seats to throw their weight at the front.For every break, the audience goes impatient. It is clear they are thirsty and hungry for more action. Since its establishment in 1978, CACEMCHO, nick-named the late Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga’s choir, has cut out a niche for itself as a high quality singing group. In 1979, the choir represented Uganda in the inauguration of the Uganda Martrys Basilica in Rome. In 1988, they beat 89 choirs to win the International Federation of Choral music festivals in Germany.The choir has travelled widely in France and Germany. It has also produced various music professors and top music directors like Michael Mukisa and Lawrence Tamusuza, a lecturer at Makerere University’s department of Music, Dance & Drama. The second part of the concert unleashes more of our homemade hymns. Charles Mugerwa, springs to his feet with a solo: The people that walked in darkness. The passion in his deep and neatly blended bass draws the attention of the afflicted and turns them to the light of Christ. CACEMCHO’s baby choir then sets in with Joy to the world. The jolly and playful children drive the congregation wild with joy, courtesy of their cheeky antics.The part is climaxed with He shall feed his flock, presented by Maria Mukomukambwe, a voice student from the Kampala Music School. Her well-toned sensuous voice sends the congregation seated in deafening silence with months agape, possibly wondering whether she had borrowed Mariah Carey’s voice for this particular concert. The greatest classical of all times, Hallelujah Chorus, Handel’s composition receives a standing ovation and climaxes the well-attended concert. The choir then raise their voices with the Jubilee Anthem. They then lead the congregation out of the Church into the falling night and a fresh year.