Mako soars in Kigali
Dec 22, 2005
UGANDA-based Rwandan-born Mako Ntikoshwa (right) may not have caused any (or just a few) ripples in the Ugandan music industry yet, but back home in Kigali, the dance-hall artiste is a heavyweight. He is the most popular local artiste there.
By Gilbert Mwijuke
UGANDA-based Rwandan-born Mako Ntikoshwa (right) may not have caused any (or just a few) ripples in the Ugandan music industry yet, but back home in Kigali, the dance-hall artiste is a heavyweight. He is the most popular local artiste there.
His song Agaseko (Rwandese for your smile) is currently the most popular song in Kigali, having been voted 2005’s song of the year in polls conducted by some Rwandan top radio stations, including Flash Fm, Radio Rwanda, Radio Ten Disi and City Radio. With its catchy beats, the song is also a favourite in most Kigali nightclubs. Whenever it plays, fans jump into frenzy.
When Mako performed with Ugandan artistes including Juliana Kanyomozi, R & B duo of Benon and Vampos, Michael Ross and Tanzanian artiste Mr. Blue at Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali last month, he left many Rwandans yearning for more. His performance was ‘mouthwatering’, leaving the Ugandan artistes stunned!
Mako, who stormed the stage in an open-roof Pajero belting out Agaseko, got fans cheering in approval! His Ugandan counterparts Vampos, Benon and Michael Ross, who were awed by Mako’s popularity in Kigali, kept on asking him: “Why are you that big here yet you haven’t made an impact in Uganda?â€
Mako’s response was: “I understand why people in Uganda have failed to notice and appreciate my work. The problem is I sing in my local language (Kinyarwanda) and at the moment, I will stick to that,†Mako defends himself. Mako says he is not bothered much about getting attention in Uganda as long as he is a star back home.
His other hit, Ndi Mushumba (I’m a herdsman), is also a favourite in Rwanda. Despite being a mid- tempo dance groove, the song is emotional. Sung in Kinyarwanda, it talks about the ups and downs in life. “In life, you can be a herdsman today and be a millionaire tomorrow or the reverse,†Mako explains.
Mako’s popularity also extends to neighbouring Tanzania and Burundi. “People in Burundi love me more than those in my own country,†he says.
Two of his songs, Agaseko and Ndi Mushumba, have been some of the top songs in Bujumbura this year. Mako will be launching his new 8-track album Kaza Kazi (Swahili for work hard) in Kampala and Kigali in February 2006.
UGANDA-based Rwandan-born Mako Ntikoshwa (right) may not have caused any (or just a few) ripples in the Ugandan music industry yet, but back home in Kigali, the dance-hall artiste is a heavyweight. He is the most popular local artiste there.
His song Agaseko (Rwandese for your smile) is currently the most popular song in Kigali, having been voted 2005’s song of the year in polls conducted by some Rwandan top radio stations, including Flash Fm, Radio Rwanda, Radio Ten Disi and City Radio. With its catchy beats, the song is also a favourite in most Kigali nightclubs. Whenever it plays, fans jump into frenzy.
When Mako performed with Ugandan artistes including Juliana Kanyomozi, R & B duo of Benon and Vampos, Michael Ross and Tanzanian artiste Mr. Blue at Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali last month, he left many Rwandans yearning for more. His performance was ‘mouthwatering’, leaving the Ugandan artistes stunned!
Mako, who stormed the stage in an open-roof Pajero belting out Agaseko, got fans cheering in approval! His Ugandan counterparts Vampos, Benon and Michael Ross, who were awed by Mako’s popularity in Kigali, kept on asking him: “Why are you that big here yet you haven’t made an impact in Uganda?â€
Mako’s response was: “I understand why people in Uganda have failed to notice and appreciate my work. The problem is I sing in my local language (Kinyarwanda) and at the moment, I will stick to that,†Mako defends himself. Mako says he is not bothered much about getting attention in Uganda as long as he is a star back home.
His other hit, Ndi Mushumba (I’m a herdsman), is also a favourite in Rwanda. Despite being a mid- tempo dance groove, the song is emotional. Sung in Kinyarwanda, it talks about the ups and downs in life. “In life, you can be a herdsman today and be a millionaire tomorrow or the reverse,†Mako explains.
Mako’s popularity also extends to neighbouring Tanzania and Burundi. “People in Burundi love me more than those in my own country,†he says.
Two of his songs, Agaseko and Ndi Mushumba, have been some of the top songs in Bujumbura this year. Mako will be launching his new 8-track album Kaza Kazi (Swahili for work hard) in Kampala and Kigali in February 2006.