Brain Behind Baganda Music CD
NALONGO Sylvia Nannyonga Tamusuza, 35, a lecturer at Makerere University’s department of Music Dance and Drama, is an interesting ethnomusicologist.
By Mathias Mazinga
NALONGO Sylvia Nannyonga Tamusuza, 35, a lecturer at Makerere University’s department of Music Dance and Drama, is an interesting ethnomusicologist.
Ethnomusicology is the study of music in relation to culture.
The talkative but shrewd don believes that people can hardly understand music if they have no knowledge of the people to whom the music belongs. Likewise, scholars will easily understand a given culture when they confront themselves with facts on the music of the people of that culture.
“Music is a product of human behaviour whether social, cultural or learned. To understand it, we have to know about the people that create it,†she explained.
Nannyonga is the brain behind the first Baganda Music CD, which was launched by the Katikkiro, Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere, recently. This album is one of Nannyonga’s most remarkable achievements. Apart from being the performer of Track 3 Nakatanza, Nannyonga did an intensive and extensive three-year research on the culture/music of the Baganda, prior to the recording of the album. She also offered technical advice on the recording.
In academics, Nannyonga has made even more significant contributions. She is the first and only Ugandan ethnomusicologist. After satisfying the requirements for the award of a Ph. D at the University of Pittsburg, USA, in 2001, Dr. Nannyonga for the first time introduced ethnomusicology at Makerere. While in the US, Nannyonga developed a number of courses like Ugandan Music and Dance at Pittsburg University. She also formed a music group called African Drumming and Dance Ensemble. Nannyonga also helped the university acquire Ugandan musical instruments.
She has represented Uganda several times in cultural music internationally. She has won a number of awards that included the Pre-Doctoral Andrew Melon Fellowship, the Pantaleon Prize for the best graduate paper presented at the Conference, Media Atlantic Chapter for Ethnomusicology at the university.
Nannyonga was also recognised as the most outstanding student and teacher at the Music Department Pittsburgh University in 1999 and 2000, respectively. She also developed courses in the field of Ethnomusicology both, at master’s and undergraduate levels.
Nannyonga has produced a number of publications that include Music and Gender, Politics and Ethnicity, Music and School Festivals, Mbaga/ Bakisimba Dance, etc.
Currently, Nannyonga is working on two projects. Roman Catholic Church Music and Children’s Music in Buganda. Her first book, Gendering Music and Dance Among the Baganda, will be published this year.
Nannyonga has travelled widely, giving lectures and holding workshops. She visited Bergen University Norway, Cremon/Trino University Italy and Middlesex University in the UK for a teaching study tour, in September 2003. She has also held workshops on Ugandan Music in Austria, Ireland, Finland, Canada and USA.
Outside academics, Nannyonga has been involved with a number of performing groups. She was a member of the Catholic Centenary Memorial Choir and St. Augustine’s Chapel Makerere University choir.
Currently she is an active member of Abaana B’engoma Drama Group.
Nannyonga is a vocalist, dancer and plays traditional instruments.
Nannyonga was born in 1968 at Nsambya, to the late Alphonse Kambugu and Agatha Nabukeera.
She attended St. Joseph’s Primary School Nsambya (1974-80) and Makerere College School (1981-87). She joined Makerere University, where she graduated with a BA (A) (Music, Economics) in 1991.
She did her master’s degree at Makerere from 1992 to 1995, then did her PHD at the University of Pittsburg, USA, which she completed in 2001.
Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere has high regards for Nannyonga. “She is an intelligent, practical and exemplary lady who loves her culture. Her contribution to national development is immense,†Ssemwogerere remarked.
Nannyonga is married to Dr. Tamusuza, also a lecturer of in the department of Music, Dance And Drama at Makerere University. They have two children.
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NALONGO Sylvia Nannyonga Tamusuza, 35, a lecturer at Makerere University’s department of Music Dance and Drama, is an interesting ethnomusicologist.
Ethnomusicology is the study of music in relation to culture.
The talkative but shrewd don believes that people can hardly understand music if they have no knowledge of the people to whom the music belongs. Likewise, scholars will easily understand a given culture when they confront themselves with facts on the music of the people of that culture.
“Music is a product of human behaviour whether social, cultural or learned. To understand it, we have to know about the people that create it,†she explained.
Nannyonga is the brain behind the first Baganda Music CD, which was launched by the Katikkiro, Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere, recently. This album is one of Nannyonga’s most remarkable achievements. Apart from being the performer of Track 3 Nakatanza, Nannyonga did an intensive and extensive three-year research on the culture/music of the Baganda, prior to the recording of the album. She also offered technical advice on the recording.
In academics, Nannyonga has made even more significant contributions. She is the first and only Ugandan ethnomusicologist. After satisfying the requirements for the award of a Ph. D at the University of Pittsburg, USA, in 2001, Dr. Nannyonga for the first time introduced ethnomusicology at Makerere. While in the US, Nannyonga developed a number of courses like Ugandan Music and Dance at Pittsburg University. She also formed a music group called African Drumming and Dance Ensemble. Nannyonga also helped the university acquire Ugandan musical instruments.
She has represented Uganda several times in cultural music internationally. She has won a number of awards that included the Pre-Doctoral Andrew Melon Fellowship, the Pantaleon Prize for the best graduate paper presented at the Conference, Media Atlantic Chapter for Ethnomusicology at the university.
Nannyonga was also recognised as the most outstanding student and teacher at the Music Department Pittsburgh University in 1999 and 2000, respectively. She also developed courses in the field of Ethnomusicology both, at master’s and undergraduate levels.
Nannyonga has produced a number of publications that include Music and Gender, Politics and Ethnicity, Music and School Festivals, Mbaga/ Bakisimba Dance, etc.
Currently, Nannyonga is working on two projects. Roman Catholic Church Music and Children’s Music in Buganda. Her first book, Gendering Music and Dance Among the Baganda, will be published this year.
Nannyonga has travelled widely, giving lectures and holding workshops. She visited Bergen University Norway, Cremon/Trino University Italy and Middlesex University in the UK for a teaching study tour, in September 2003. She has also held workshops on Ugandan Music in Austria, Ireland, Finland, Canada and USA.
Outside academics, Nannyonga has been involved with a number of performing groups. She was a member of the Catholic Centenary Memorial Choir and St. Augustine’s Chapel Makerere University choir.
Currently she is an active member of Abaana B’engoma Drama Group.
Nannyonga is a vocalist, dancer and plays traditional instruments.
Nannyonga was born in 1968 at Nsambya, to the late Alphonse Kambugu and Agatha Nabukeera.
She attended St. Joseph’s Primary School Nsambya (1974-80) and Makerere College School (1981-87). She joined Makerere University, where she graduated with a BA (A) (Music, Economics) in 1991.
She did her master’s degree at Makerere from 1992 to 1995, then did her PHD at the University of Pittsburg, USA, which she completed in 2001.
Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere has high regards for Nannyonga. “She is an intelligent, practical and exemplary lady who loves her culture. Her contribution to national development is immense,†Ssemwogerere remarked.
Nannyonga is married to Dr. Tamusuza, also a lecturer of in the department of Music, Dance And Drama at Makerere University. They have two children.
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