The greatest hits of the year 2005

Artiste: Jose Chameloene
Track: Kipepeo
Label: Lusyn Enterprises
Although 2005 has not been the best of his years, Kipepeo was a meaningful song and a club hit. It is a hit in Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. It was sang in such rapid-fire Swahili that I have still failed to understand it. The only amusement any parent gets is to see their kids jumping to it. It definitely cultivated him millions of future fans — the kids. Every time it is played on radio, whole villages come alive.


Artiste: Julianna Kanyomozi and Bobi Wine

Track: Maama Mbire
Though it was as infectiously hooky as a flu virus, the chorus sounds like it was lifted from Emperor Orlando’s Rudi Nyumbani. But it still stands out as one hell of a tune by this duo


Artiste: Rebecca Jingo.
Track: Obwetowaze b’womukyala

Label: Power Music House
The first thing that jumped at me when I first listened to this track was the meaningful and well thought-out theme in the song — why women should not treat their husbands like doormats or else they might live to regret it later. Then the elaborate, but not excessive production of Innocent Kayizi where he employed a double bass technique on fat, double throbbing bass, augmented by another higher octave atop layers of Rebecca Jingo’s buzzy, round tones, in two different registers; mid-range and treble.


Artiste: Karim Nsubuga
Single: Mabeete

This is one of the tunes that grabbed our attention just before the curtain fell on 2005. Although the music has a great Afrocentric dancehall beat, the lyrics were not that easy to understand and digest just the way we love them — they are in ‘Lingala.’ Trust Ugandan fans. They concocted their own which go: Nazalibwa nina mabeete. Whatever ‘Mabeete’ means is anyone’s guess.


Artiste: Shaka Mayanja featuring K’Angie Mtume (Angela Kalule)
Album: Dark Chocolate
This is one of the albums that got me terribly excited in 2005. The best lovers’ rock reggae that I have ever listened to. Kalule’s voice was in very fine form. Shaka Mayanja proved a stylist in his own right, merging lover’s rock with jazz and funk in the process creating an artistic statement of sorts. Some people should have their heads examined. Why it didn’t win a PAM Award for best reggae album or single still beats me. Was it because Mayanja explored a music territory that was completely mysterious to many?


Artiste: Kato Lubwama
Track: Oli Number Emu

Label: Power Music House
He has distinguished himself as one of the top song writers and actors in the country. But I thought he used to croak like a frog instead of singing. This track was different though, he managed to at least sing.


Artiste: Kid Fox
Track: Uganda N’emikwano

He is one of gospel’s hidden talents that were unveiled this year. Uganda n’emikwano is one of the tracks that kept us nodding our heads everytime we heard it blare on the street or pump on the radio. Some listeners enoyed the melody, others the catchy beat. I preferred the religious and social issues that were delivered in semi-automatic verbal artillery.


vArtistes: Ngoni featuring Mosh
Album: Diggi

Label: Abitex
Although the company complained that their album hardly left the shop shelves, it was a hit that secured for them a fan base spanning tweenies to thirty-somethings. Although Ngoni belts the lyrics beautifully and Mosh expertly throws his toasts over the melody, thvough masked well) flies through the music and you wonder whether these chaps are ‘retarded.’


Artiste: Julianna Kanyomozi
Album: Nabikoowa

The chemistry of Silver Kyagulanyi’s songwriting and Steve Jean’s production created a charming RnB song that was very easy to get into as soon as it hit the airwaves. This song was not only repeatedly listened to; it also became an anthem for women whose hearts have been broken many times by unfaithful partners and finally spawned a catchphrase ‘Twabikoowa.’


Artiste: Sparks Ssebabi
Album: Nina Kendya

Label: Panther Productions
This is arguably one of the best hits of the year. It was wrapped in a bouncy dancehall beat. It didn’t get nominated because it was poorly marketed.


Artiste: Sweet Kid
Single: Kakuntwale

One of the best tunes that grabbed the heart in 2005 and one we could not afford to sleep on. This zoukouish number was made accessible by his sweet voice, hooky lines and a groovy pounding bass line.


Artistes: Da Twinz
Album: Mudomo

Label: Abitex
This UK-based duo’s music swept the nation like a wild fire. Thanks to their brand of Afro-pop with a very strong contemporary feel, which was produced by a 16-year-old Briton of Ugandan descent.


Artiste: Ronald Mayinja
Album: Tulikubunkenke

Label: Dick Productions
Over the years, he has proved to us that he is by far the most eloquent and observant songwriter. He kept late Elly Wamala’s spirit alive again with this banging monster, in which he gave us a glimpse into the not-so-glitzy world of the rich. “Behind every rich man’s success, are disturbing tales of choking debts,” he sang to a spirited bouncy bass-driven track.


Artiste: Sophie Nantongo
Album: Abakazi

When she left Eagles Production and got married, people thought she was finished. But Nantongo seems to have got her groove back. Her Abakazi has caught on like a wild bush fire, yet it was released just a few months ago. I’m also attracted to it because of its deep message. She asked the questions — “Why do women often hit walls and get hurt because they never learn from the same mistake?”


Artiste: Sophie Gombya
Track: Spare Tyre

Label: Abitex Sounds
The song is an anthem and a deadly weapon for wives to fire at mistresses who give them sleepless nights. Sharply pointed lyrics aside, talent still shines through this track on the production side and Sophie’s amazing smooth vocals are still in fine form.

Artiste: Abdu Muraasi
Track: Ekyapa

Label: Kasiwukira
I have failed to be touched by this contemporary kadongo-kamu for very obvious reasons. He flaunts all the rules in the music book and keeps mining the soundtrack. He also writes the same song with the same predictable tones and lays them over the same instrumentals. Strange, only a handful of fans, like me, seem to care.


Artiste: Ragga Dee
Album: Ndigida

Label: Kasiwukira
The grandmaster of ‘fusion dancehall’ in Uganda made a big splash again. He charmed the crowd with dumb, sing-along lyrics and crazy-fun dance grooves. Musically we saw him again plant one foot in the dancehall arena, while his fingers were firmly on the Afro-beat pulse. Fun stuff.


Artiste: Silver Kyagulanyi
Track: Tebalemwa Maka

Just the first listen to this track will give you a fair impression of what Kyagulanyi is — a super producer/songwriter. (He has penned hit songs for Julianna Kanyomozi, (Nabikoowa) and Sheila Nvanungi (Eriiso). His reputation as a singer also remained intact with this howler. All his songs are more like plays dramatising social issues, but the main feeling they leave you with is brilliant music by a brilliant composer.


Artiste: Sheila Nvanungi
Track: Eriiso

This is a track that did not sound like the rest of the stuff that floods our market. It had beautiful arrangements, a live horn section and percussion by Afrigo’s Sewanyana plus electrifying guitar hook by Diamond Productions’ Benjamin. The sunny melody, wafts of keyboards by Dream Studio’s Paddy Kayiwa added a beatific quality to it. Unfortunately, it was not everybody’s cup of tea just because it sounded too new and modern

Artiste: Harriet Kisakye
Track: Ki-Nigeria
She seems to be a rabid fan of Nollywood (Nigerian) movies and witchcraft. Otherwise how could she pen a song like this? Men who cheat on their women should be ‘locked’ up in a bottle — just like it is done in Nigerian movies. Despite its mundane lyrics, Ki-Nigeria was one of the most popular songs of 2005.



Artiste: Mesach Semakula
Album: Abakazi Abaguma

Label: Kasiwukira Studio
This was his year, no doubt about it. He ditched that lazy snyths-driven big band sound for a more punchy, danceable Afro-pop style. It worked miracles for him. Without meaning to sound clichéd, this album can best be described as ‘joy.’ No wonder he was voted Best Artiste of the Year. The biggest question is: Will he maintain that top position next year? Let us wait and see.


Group: Blu*3
Track: Hitaji
Launched on December 11, 2004, this all-girl group kept the heat up this year. From the opening bar you know straight away that you are in for something different — something very urban and can only be crafted by magic fingers of Steve Jean. The made a good account of themselves both in the song and video. To some, Hitaji might be a mainstream song with pop-perfect lyrics and a catchy radio-friendly chorus, but to me it hints at better things to come from the threesome.

Artiste: Phoebe Nassolo
Track: Nafunye Omulenzi
Label: Panther Production
She enjoys an enviable reputation as a singer with a killer voice. She delivered sweet notes on this rocking take on love, in a buoyant 3-chord afro-pop. The result was a round and warm song with an ambient buzz. Arguably one of the best tunes in 2005.


Artiste: Bernard Munyigwa
Track: Sumulula
He puts passion and his whole person in it. Arguably one of the best authentic zouk songs to be released in recent years.


Artiste: Peter Miles and Navio
Track: Ruckus
One of the most talented, but criminally ignored dancehall artistes teamed up with Klear Kut and the result was this bombastic track where pounding dancehall met hip-hop. A dance floor joy it was too.


Artiste: Geoffrey Lutaaya
Track: Nassanga
Label: Dick Production
Big things happened for this velvety voiced Eagles Production’s director. He built his GL recording studio on Busabala, after which he dropped Nassanga. We were instantly attracted to it because it is laden with silky melodies, augmented by a punchy brass section and topped with that well-worn “seben” rhythm borrowed from urban Congolese pop.


Artiste: Geoffrey Lutaaya
Track: Nassanga
Label: Dick Production
Big things happened for this velvety voiced Eagles Production’s director. He built his GL recording studio on Busabala, after which he dropped Nassanga. We were instantly attracted to it because it is laden with silky melodies, augmented by a punchy brass section and topped with that well-worn “seben” rhythm borrowed from urban Congolese pop.


Group: Eastworld Foda
Track: Kanambeya

They retained their uncompromising Afro-beat edge with the help of producer David Mukalazi. Kanambeya was a good mood up-lifter that not only gave us an insight into how Basoga ladies turn their husbands into prisoners of love, but it was very upbeat, just one of the tracks you need at a party to keep the floor busy. Nicely arranged songs fused with soukous flavours and a wicked lead guitar. But life being a delicate balance between joy and pain, they walked away empty-handed at the PAM awards.


Artiste: Roy Kapale
Track: Ebitaala Bintadde

Label: Power Music House
This is one of the tracks that kept playing over and over in my head. It had irresistible dance beats and catchy hooks, along with their unmistakable appeal and charisma. It is still hard for anyone to just sit and listen to this tune, it really gets your body pumping, not only the beat, but also Kapale’s beautiful singing.


Group: IMF Crew
Track: Lwaki Mulwana
Label: IMF Records
While others were singing about love and heartbreak, these young fellows sang about real issues. When Bobi Wine, Chameleone and Bebe Cool were at each other’s throats they sat down and penned this track which asks them in very direct terms — why do
you fight? The song was an instant hit because it had a true African ambiance. The sound was warm, bursting with vocal harmony. The only people this song did not please at the time were the culprits. They confronted IMF and told them to leave the fighting to them and mind their own business. Watch these chaps next year.

Artiste: Buchaman
Track: Lwaki Temumatira

What do you do when the whole world, especially women fans, ignores you because you are lame? You get pen and paper and bluntly ask them: “Lwaki Temumatira?” (Why don’t you like me?) It will work the magic like this sizzling, bass-driven dance floor stomper.



Ariste: Bebe Cool
Album: Awete

Despite his cocky attitude, he is one artiste that I rate one of the best in the country. He dropped some of the most pulsating, vigorous blow-outs that would either have you spinning around your living room or running from the house screaming. Awete was just one of them.