Kitooke star bounces back with a hot one

Apr 28, 2005

First, he sang Ekitooke kifa Nsalira, which shot to the tops of local FM

By Titus Sserunjogi
First, he sang Ekitooke kifa Nsalira, which shot to the tops of local FM radio charts and sold over 120,000 copies in eight months.

The song also gave him a harsh run with critics. Instead of commending him for turning an Avis soap advertisement gig into a chart-bursting hit, they lampooned him as the latest copycat.

But Mubiru did not let a few harsh words ruin his career. Now, he is making a come-back with a semi-ironic Mukono gaamu, which is a beautiful sequel to Ekitooke kifa nsalira.
Mukono Gamu advises men to give their wives money.

Mubiru is yet to release the six-track album, but he sang Mukono gaamu during the Ray C concert at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Easter Sunday.

While presenting the song at Love triangle concert at Pride Theatre last week, female fans ululated in his praise. Kitooke kifa nsalira earned Eagles’ Production the 2004 PAM award for Best Live Band. Today, the bandmates have offered Mubiru the perfect examples of romantic love and he has incorporated these into his new album.

In Tombuulira, Mubiru advises couples against listening to rumourmongers, who may only desire to break them apart.

The singer draws inspiration from the relationships between bandmates Cathy Kusaasira and Fred Serugga, Irene Namatovu and Geoffrey Lutaaya, who are married despite the many rumours.

Mubiru’s Nvaako nze tells off a seducer in favour of his old lover. Nvaako nze and Tombuulira caused only a mild stir among the audience when Mubiru sang them at Pride Theatre.

The song might have passed unnoticed had they not been accompanied by realistic drama. However, there’s still a chance that the audience will appreciate the songs. This was the case for Nkakasa from Mubiru’s first album. It was released eight months ago. But it is only today that it has become a favourite at request shows on FM radio stations and karaoke at nightclubs.

Mubiru writes all his songs. He picked some creative skills from the late Herbert Semogerere. The latter was a song writer for the Eagle’s Production.
“Herbert was my teacher and friend,” says Mubiru.

I composed Yawula mu mikwano as my tribute to him.” The song suggests that one would rather walk through life alone than with pretentious friends. All the songs are done to a blend of Zouk and Soukous rhythms, with a powerful undercurrent of heavy dance rhythms.

The only raggae track on the album is Nkuwondedde, which is about a man, who is in love with a woman, but fears to tell her. Mubiru’s upcoming album is only waiting for one song to be released-an Islamic religious song with Koranic phrases, but contemporary pop rhythms! “Islamic music has been restricted to mataali,” says Mubiru. He adds, “But I want to give it a wider appeal.”

Mubiru’s songs show that he is out to improve the welfare of housewives. But some critics have branded him a womaniser, who is hungry for money and fame.

“I was brought up in a religious family. I respect Muslim values even in song,” he adds.
Born in Kayunga district, Mubiru worked as a barber before he joined Eagle’s production.

He defected shortly to Kato Lubwam’s Diamonds’ Production, returned to the Eagles in 2004 and released Ekitooke kifa nsalira, which catapulted him into fame. Mubiru’s album won him the nickname Kitooke.

Should Mukono gaamu imprint him with its name, his fans will brand him a miser. “My fans decide my image,” says Mubiru, “If they call me ‘Mukono gaamu, I’ll reply.

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