MARK P’S ‘ADUM EONG’ EARNS HIM RECOGNITION

Dec 08, 2006

We first struck out with Akwap Na (This World), his six-track debut album in 2004. But even as a little-known artiste, Mark Ikwap Paul a.k.a Mark P, garnered a PAM Award nomination for Eastern Artiste of the Year 2004, which he lost out to East World. Two years down the road, Mark P is the proud hol

By Sebidde Kiryowa

We first struck out with Akwap Na (This World), his six-track debut album in 2004. But even as a little-known artiste, Mark Ikwap Paul a.k.a Mark P, garnered a PAM Award nomination for Eastern Artiste of the Year 2004, which he lost out to East World. Two years down the road, Mark P is the proud holder of the PAM Award for Eastern Artiste of the Year 2006.

In his acceptance speech, Mark P, who was nominated alongside fairly seasoned artistes like Sylvia Kyansuti, Menton Krono and No Creature, expressed surprise at his victory.

“These guys (fellow nominees) are big names in eastern Uganda. In fact when they announced that I’d won, I didn’t hear that. My neighbour had to remind me,” he reminisces.

“All odds seemed to be poised against me. First of all, I sing in Ateso. It’s not exactly the kind of language that cuts across the spectrum of tribes in the east. My fellow contenders sung in Luganda and Lusoga, which have wider appeal.”

Yet, even with all these ‘drawbacks’, Mark P ought to have been more confident. It’s not everyday that a young man, a musical novice at that, from as far as Teso will be admitted into the studio of a producer as selective, expensive and picky as Steve Jean to record his song.

But then again, Mark P is not your run-of-the-mill upstart. Riding on a musical cocktail that blends elements of R&B, Afro-hip hop and Kidandali (Ugandan pop), the 25-year-old is the only singer doing contemporary music in Ateso. He is also the only artiste from Teso to gain national recognition. Besides, his zeal and drive to make it is phenomenal.

It is no wonder that his first effort earned him national recognition. For winning a PAM Award, Mark P has Adum Eong (I have found a woman with a big bum), his eight-track new album to thank.

The album has not been officially released, but the title track is reggaeton flavour sung entirely in Ateso. It has dominated the radio and TV airwaves in eastern and northern Uganda. In Kampala, mainstream radio stations like Simba and K-FM have caught onto the craze.

The song is catchy and groovy. It has an interesting theme (big bottoms are a big feature in beauty judgment among the Iteso).

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