Golden Gate Choir to release compact CD of 1970s songs
Officially, they are the Golden Gate choir. However, you could also call them the singing angels. In the 1970s and 1980s, they ranked top in East Africa’s christian gospel music.
By Elvis Basudde
Officially, they are the Golden Gate choir. However, you could also call them the singing angels. In the 1970s and 1980s, they ranked top in East Africa’s christian gospel music. Each time they stood to sing, the crowd would turn in awe because of their solid inspirational and soothing music in their powerful golden voices that never ceased to amaze them. You could listen to their songs on headphones while running down the road, mopping the house, fixing dinner, or just being with others. Their music do not only remind you of the oc... of God’s love, but it also jolts you in the right direction – worship, praise and hope. Unfortunately, beset by a series of deaths of their founding members, leaders and the fast changing entertainment scene, they sank in a state of oblivion. Golden Gate Choir first lost their charismatic founder and mentor, Robert Munyagwa in 1993. This was followed by the death of their powerful and influential leader, Sam Mukalazi in 1994. But the good news.
Gospel music lovers and audience in Kampala and in Uganda at large are buzzing with the news about the group’s return this season. The 31-year-old group has regrouped and is jostling for new identity and recognition (after 10 years in recess), amid financial crises and bereft of equipment that never chanced them to facilitate live concerts. According to Hannington Bukenya, the group’s co-ordinator, they will stage their first live public concert dubbed, VIP-Kasiki, this on May 20, at Hotel Africana poolside. “Nostalgia and fond memories are overwhelm the old members of the audience who had seen us on stage in various places in the 1970s and 1980s,†says Deborah Nakamate, a pioneer member. She adds, “Fans are assured of an excitement. We are to belt out fascinating and message package, numbers that were chartbusters. We also have new compositions.†Nakamate also said they will use these shows to commemorate Munyagwa’s death. Munyagwa was a choral genius who lived by worshipping God. She says the group started in 1973 as Munyagwa’s family choir with only six members, his children and a few relatives. Then in 1975, the group was baptised Golden Gate Choir. “We lost our mentors, but the group will live on. We have kept it alive and will continue to do so whatever it takes. We are talented and we can compose, sing as well as act. Munyagwa’s legacy must live on,†says Bukenya who joined the group while still a student in 1976. He said sometimes though not publicised, some senior members have been staging shows in various places with a somewhat small following.
Hotel Africana and Nakivubo Stadium shows mark the beginning of the Golden gate Choir’s come back, which will take them to various towns. Apart from a number of original members who are still alive, the group has introduced a few youthful voices. The group boasts of 12 tapes to their credit including the most popular ones, Ntume Ani, Babylon, Emirembe Gy’abalumi, and Tulibinyumyako, among others. “Iam happy that this career is not accorded the same status of say a bricklayer, because it could easily have been the other way around, “ Bukenya says.
He adds, “musicians could have been as anonymous as bricklayers and the later could have been the stars. If you think about it, we are doing something tangible.
Ends
Officially, they are the Golden Gate choir. However, you could also call them the singing angels. In the 1970s and 1980s, they ranked top in East Africa’s christian gospel music. Each time they stood to sing, the crowd would turn in awe because of their solid inspirational and soothing music in their powerful golden voices that never ceased to amaze them. You could listen to their songs on headphones while running down the road, mopping the house, fixing dinner, or just being with others. Their music do not only remind you of the oc... of God’s love, but it also jolts you in the right direction – worship, praise and hope. Unfortunately, beset by a series of deaths of their founding members, leaders and the fast changing entertainment scene, they sank in a state of oblivion. Golden Gate Choir first lost their charismatic founder and mentor, Robert Munyagwa in 1993. This was followed by the death of their powerful and influential leader, Sam Mukalazi in 1994. But the good news.
Gospel music lovers and audience in Kampala and in Uganda at large are buzzing with the news about the group’s return this season. The 31-year-old group has regrouped and is jostling for new identity and recognition (after 10 years in recess), amid financial crises and bereft of equipment that never chanced them to facilitate live concerts. According to Hannington Bukenya, the group’s co-ordinator, they will stage their first live public concert dubbed, VIP-Kasiki, this on May 20, at Hotel Africana poolside. “Nostalgia and fond memories are overwhelm the old members of the audience who had seen us on stage in various places in the 1970s and 1980s,†says Deborah Nakamate, a pioneer member. She adds, “Fans are assured of an excitement. We are to belt out fascinating and message package, numbers that were chartbusters. We also have new compositions.†Nakamate also said they will use these shows to commemorate Munyagwa’s death. Munyagwa was a choral genius who lived by worshipping God. She says the group started in 1973 as Munyagwa’s family choir with only six members, his children and a few relatives. Then in 1975, the group was baptised Golden Gate Choir. “We lost our mentors, but the group will live on. We have kept it alive and will continue to do so whatever it takes. We are talented and we can compose, sing as well as act. Munyagwa’s legacy must live on,†says Bukenya who joined the group while still a student in 1976. He said sometimes though not publicised, some senior members have been staging shows in various places with a somewhat small following.
Hotel Africana and Nakivubo Stadium shows mark the beginning of the Golden gate Choir’s come back, which will take them to various towns. Apart from a number of original members who are still alive, the group has introduced a few youthful voices. The group boasts of 12 tapes to their credit including the most popular ones, Ntume Ani, Babylon, Emirembe Gy’abalumi, and Tulibinyumyako, among others. “Iam happy that this career is not accorded the same status of say a bricklayer, because it could easily have been the other way around, “ Bukenya says.
He adds, “musicians could have been as anonymous as bricklayers and the later could have been the stars. If you think about it, we are doing something tangible.
Ends