Rwandese choir steals show
Mar 25, 2004
GOLDEN GATE choir summarised its 25-year activities with a glamorous Gospel music festival at Nakivubo Stadium on Sunday. Ten choirs, most of them affiliated to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, put up splendid performances in solidarity and support of their counterpart, the Golden Gate choir.
By Mathias Mazinga
GOLDEN GATE choir summarised its 25-year activities with a glamorous Gospel music festival at Nakivubo Stadium on Sunday. Ten choirs, most of them affiliated to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, put up splendid performances in solidarity and support of their counterpart, the Golden Gate choir.
Nanziga SDA Primary School choir opened the festival with a wonderful presentation hardly expected of young children. The children enchanted the crowd with Mutulinde, a song of hope for future success and prosperity. In the song, they advised people to work hard and guard against HIV/AIDS, to ensure a prosperous Uganda. They commended the efforts of the First Lady, Janet Museveni, in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
The school children, however, turned the mood of the audience somber when they sang Tujjukira Bingi ku Munyagwa, a charismatic tribute to the the late Robert Munyagwa, a Gospel artiste and devoted Christian, who founded the Golden Gate Choir. The song was so emotional that tears rolled down the cheeks of many people.
Excitement returned when a Rwandese group, Ambassadors of Christ choir, appeared on the podium. The stylish Umushanana, a Rwandese traditional dress the lady singers were donning, was exciting enough to move the audience. The choir surprised the audience when they sang their Luganda song, Tuzze Kwebaza (in thanksgiving for the divine providence of God seen through His loving care towards the Golden Gate choir). Their beautiful voices, expression and perfection of Luganda intonations wowed Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma, Buganda’s deputy Katikkiro, prompting him to call the choir back on stage towards the end of the festival.
Ambassadors of Christ Choir also performed Amani (Swahili word for peace), a beautiful song with slow, heavy reggae dance beats. They also performed Impanda Yumwami (Kinyarwanda for the trumpet of Our Lord). The choir’s beautiful voices and melodious songs clearly brought out the image of the heavenly angelic choirs. No wonder many people declared they got saved.
Bristol Academy brass band changed the music menu when it played Emitima Gy’Abaganda, a song by the students of Buddo SSS. The audience seemed not interested.
However, the ensemble was on the right track. They had to make the presence of Kabaka’s officials felt.
Solomon’s Choir based at Busega received applause when they ascended on the podium, presumably because of their popularity. They performed the two songs, Ky’ekiseera and Kaali Kaseera Kazibu well. Glorious Singers sang Essawa Gyetulimu ya Kabenje and Yezu Olijja ddi.
Charity Betty Masembe sent the audience wild with her song Jubilee Yaffe (today is our Silver Jubilee). Only the Biblical message made her song different from dance hall music. The Golden Gate choir put up a spirited performance leaving no doubt that it had been in the field for 25 years. They performed a number of their songs, some of which were composed as early as 1975. These include: We shall Praise Him at The Golden Gate, Babilooni (alas, Babylon has fallen) and Okuwandiikibwa Okwasooka.
Other groups which performed included the Luzira-based St. Steven’s Anglican Church choir and individual Gospel artistes like William Mugerwa and Gloria Nambi. The festival was generally well organised despite the low turn out. People responded fully to the music groups. They sang and danced along with the choirs.
Mayor Sebaana Kizito, who also attended enjoyed, marched and danced to the different performances.
The festival whose atmosphere was calm and peaceful was a testimony that music is a universal language, which brings love and unity to humanity.
Samona Jelly, Prime Radio, Maganjo Grain millers, CBS, Beautyline Products and Afrinet sponsored the festival.
Scomp Sounds provided the sound system.
GOLDEN GATE choir summarised its 25-year activities with a glamorous Gospel music festival at Nakivubo Stadium on Sunday. Ten choirs, most of them affiliated to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, put up splendid performances in solidarity and support of their counterpart, the Golden Gate choir.
Nanziga SDA Primary School choir opened the festival with a wonderful presentation hardly expected of young children. The children enchanted the crowd with Mutulinde, a song of hope for future success and prosperity. In the song, they advised people to work hard and guard against HIV/AIDS, to ensure a prosperous Uganda. They commended the efforts of the First Lady, Janet Museveni, in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
The school children, however, turned the mood of the audience somber when they sang Tujjukira Bingi ku Munyagwa, a charismatic tribute to the the late Robert Munyagwa, a Gospel artiste and devoted Christian, who founded the Golden Gate Choir. The song was so emotional that tears rolled down the cheeks of many people.
Excitement returned when a Rwandese group, Ambassadors of Christ choir, appeared on the podium. The stylish Umushanana, a Rwandese traditional dress the lady singers were donning, was exciting enough to move the audience. The choir surprised the audience when they sang their Luganda song, Tuzze Kwebaza (in thanksgiving for the divine providence of God seen through His loving care towards the Golden Gate choir). Their beautiful voices, expression and perfection of Luganda intonations wowed Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma, Buganda’s deputy Katikkiro, prompting him to call the choir back on stage towards the end of the festival.
Ambassadors of Christ Choir also performed Amani (Swahili word for peace), a beautiful song with slow, heavy reggae dance beats. They also performed Impanda Yumwami (Kinyarwanda for the trumpet of Our Lord). The choir’s beautiful voices and melodious songs clearly brought out the image of the heavenly angelic choirs. No wonder many people declared they got saved.
Bristol Academy brass band changed the music menu when it played Emitima Gy’Abaganda, a song by the students of Buddo SSS. The audience seemed not interested.
However, the ensemble was on the right track. They had to make the presence of Kabaka’s officials felt.
Solomon’s Choir based at Busega received applause when they ascended on the podium, presumably because of their popularity. They performed the two songs, Ky’ekiseera and Kaali Kaseera Kazibu well. Glorious Singers sang Essawa Gyetulimu ya Kabenje and Yezu Olijja ddi.
Charity Betty Masembe sent the audience wild with her song Jubilee Yaffe (today is our Silver Jubilee). Only the Biblical message made her song different from dance hall music. The Golden Gate choir put up a spirited performance leaving no doubt that it had been in the field for 25 years. They performed a number of their songs, some of which were composed as early as 1975. These include: We shall Praise Him at The Golden Gate, Babilooni (alas, Babylon has fallen) and Okuwandiikibwa Okwasooka.
Other groups which performed included the Luzira-based St. Steven’s Anglican Church choir and individual Gospel artistes like William Mugerwa and Gloria Nambi. The festival was generally well organised despite the low turn out. People responded fully to the music groups. They sang and danced along with the choirs.
Mayor Sebaana Kizito, who also attended enjoyed, marched and danced to the different performances.
The festival whose atmosphere was calm and peaceful was a testimony that music is a universal language, which brings love and unity to humanity.
Samona Jelly, Prime Radio, Maganjo Grain millers, CBS, Beautyline Products and Afrinet sponsored the festival.
Scomp Sounds provided the sound system.