Mulondo’s jazz rocks the United States
Jun 10, 2004
SAMITE Mulondo, popularly known as Samite, a Ugandan musician based in America, is fast becoming the household idol in New York with his soul soothing African Jazz. His latest album, Tunula Eno, was wriiten with excerpts from a traditional song entitled Akanyonyi Kano. <br>
By Jackson Oboth
SAMITE Mulondo, popularly known as Samite, a Ugandan musician based in America, is fast becoming the household idol in New York with his soul soothing African Jazz. His latest album, Tunula Eno, was wriiten with excerpts from a traditional song entitled Akanyonyi Kano.
The new album was written and recorded during the last days of his dear wife, Joan, who died from brain cancer last year. “It is a special CD to me and I’m sure you will also enjoy it. I have many fantastic musicians playing on the new CD, including Tony Cedras, David Cullen, Jeff Haynes, Dominique Kanza, Bakithi Kumualo, Charlie Shew, Mar Gueye and Emaâ€, Mulondo says. There is nothing that can invoke emotion as waking up each morning to see a loved one at the verge of death. “When my wife Joan lost her ability to speak during her battle with brain cancer, I found I could understand what she wanted to say if she turned and looked into my eyes. In this song, I tell Joan that for each bird in the world, there is another bird that loves it. The birds in our world are named Joan and Samite.†Mulondo was born and raised in Uganda, where his grandfather taught him to play the traditional flute. His primary schooling was within the king’s courtyard, where royal musicians played for the king. That daily influence instilled in Mulondo the rhythms and patterns of the traditional music of his people, the Baganda. Recognising his talents, a teacher at his high school in Kampala gave him a western flute and helped him to become one of the most highly acclaimed flutists in East Africa. In 1982, he fled to Kenya as a political refugee. There he played with the Bacchus Club Jazz Band and the popular African Heritage Band.
He eventually played solo at the Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nairobi. Delivering his mellifluous vocals in Luganda, he mesmerised his audiences with original compositions played on kalimba (finger-piano), marimba (wooden xylophone), litungu (seven-stringed and Kenyan instrument) and other flutes.
Mulondo went to the US in 1987. He now makes his home in Ithaca, New York, where he recorded his first tour-de-force Shanachie release Abaana Bakesaâ€. His second release, Pearl of Africa Reborn, has new recordings which retain the essence of African tradition. Mulondo’s third US album Silina Musango, released by Xenophile, is a joyful collection of melodic, trans-cultural songs, featuring kalimba melodies, which are the heartbeat of Mulondo’s music. He spent the Summer of 1999 traveling in Africa filming the PBS documentary, Song of the Refugee. His latest release, Kambu Angels, was inspired by a desire to present African refugees’ hope. Media coverage during the darkest days of crisis concentrated on violence and destruction, with little or no coverage of the reconciliation and healing process now underway.
Ends
SAMITE Mulondo, popularly known as Samite, a Ugandan musician based in America, is fast becoming the household idol in New York with his soul soothing African Jazz. His latest album, Tunula Eno, was wriiten with excerpts from a traditional song entitled Akanyonyi Kano.
The new album was written and recorded during the last days of his dear wife, Joan, who died from brain cancer last year. “It is a special CD to me and I’m sure you will also enjoy it. I have many fantastic musicians playing on the new CD, including Tony Cedras, David Cullen, Jeff Haynes, Dominique Kanza, Bakithi Kumualo, Charlie Shew, Mar Gueye and Emaâ€, Mulondo says. There is nothing that can invoke emotion as waking up each morning to see a loved one at the verge of death. “When my wife Joan lost her ability to speak during her battle with brain cancer, I found I could understand what she wanted to say if she turned and looked into my eyes. In this song, I tell Joan that for each bird in the world, there is another bird that loves it. The birds in our world are named Joan and Samite.†Mulondo was born and raised in Uganda, where his grandfather taught him to play the traditional flute. His primary schooling was within the king’s courtyard, where royal musicians played for the king. That daily influence instilled in Mulondo the rhythms and patterns of the traditional music of his people, the Baganda. Recognising his talents, a teacher at his high school in Kampala gave him a western flute and helped him to become one of the most highly acclaimed flutists in East Africa. In 1982, he fled to Kenya as a political refugee. There he played with the Bacchus Club Jazz Band and the popular African Heritage Band.
He eventually played solo at the Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nairobi. Delivering his mellifluous vocals in Luganda, he mesmerised his audiences with original compositions played on kalimba (finger-piano), marimba (wooden xylophone), litungu (seven-stringed and Kenyan instrument) and other flutes.
Mulondo went to the US in 1987. He now makes his home in Ithaca, New York, where he recorded his first tour-de-force Shanachie release Abaana Bakesaâ€. His second release, Pearl of Africa Reborn, has new recordings which retain the essence of African tradition. Mulondo’s third US album Silina Musango, released by Xenophile, is a joyful collection of melodic, trans-cultural songs, featuring kalimba melodies, which are the heartbeat of Mulondo’s music. He spent the Summer of 1999 traveling in Africa filming the PBS documentary, Song of the Refugee. His latest release, Kambu Angels, was inspired by a desire to present African refugees’ hope. Media coverage during the darkest days of crisis concentrated on violence and destruction, with little or no coverage of the reconciliation and healing process now underway.
Ends