Tribute to Jimmy Katumba
A giant has fallen. Truly, Jimmy Katumba was a giant in music. Many of the budding musicians sought his services and advice besides looking up to him as their mentor. Eagles Production members, Geoffrey Lutaaya, Grace Sekamatte and Mesach Semakula, formed their band moulding it around the Ebonies. S
A giant has fallen. Truly, Jimmy Katumba was a giant in music. Many of the budding musicians sought his services and advice besides looking up to him as their mentor. Eagles Production members, Geoffrey Lutaaya, Grace Sekamatte and Mesach Semakula, formed their band moulding it around the Ebonies. Such was the mood on Monday night at the National Theatre when hundreds of fans turned up for a vigil. Katumba’s former bandmates, the Ebonites, performed his songs with joy amidst agony. Katumba will be buried tomorrow...
Rachael Magoola, singer
At the time Jimmy Katumba’s songs were a hit on the streets of Kampala and other parts of the country I was a student. We used to write the lyrics of his songs word per word, and then attempt to sing like him. Everyone wanted to sing like him. One day when I heard he was going to perform in Jinja with the Ebonies, I went to attend the show with an intention of joining him in the Ebonies. But at the time, I preferred Afrigo Band. I just made him my friend and he has always been. He was courteous to those who wanted to learn something from him. He gave me a lot and gave the Uganda music industry much more.
Wassanyi Serukenya, accomplished muscian, composer
He was my beloved among singers. He loved performing with all his strength and had a very strong voice that I equated to the likes of Tom Johns and Jim Reeves from UK, music legends of the 1960s. Whenever I listened to him, I never wanted to stop. But I think he has gone for another assignment. I always believe so.
Julie Ssesanga, musician
I began my vocal code training with Jimmy Katumba when I was still in S.5. His group was hot. It had the likes of Peter Clever and his wife, Stella Nanteza. I remember he used to take us through proper voice training, which upcoming musicians do not have these days. With him, I learnt how to sing in the right note, at the right time, right pitch and right breath. The rich quality voice that people complimented me for is the greatest gift I got from him.
Joanita Kawalya Muganga, Singer Afrigo Band
Jimmy was a lead vocalist who organised spectacular shows. In the 1980s, it was the Ebonies’ concerts you had to give anything to attend. He was the Michael Jackson of Uganda as he displayed his stunts on a smoke-filled stage. He was a consolation to people who had just survived the guerilla war that had ended in 1986. He was the backbone of the Ebonies’ popularity. He performed in churches and his songs related to the community.
Alloysious Matovu Joy, Actor Bakayimbira Dramactors
I came to know Jimmy Katumba when I was at St. Mary’s College Kisubi in 1979. As a member of the School Chapel Choir, I kept thinking, after my studies, I would have to join him. I badly wanted to sing with him. During my O’Level vacation (1979-1980), I wanted to join the Ebonies in rehearsal, but I did not know the tricks or whether I had what it took to join them. Instead, I joined Kampala Dramactors after David Katete encouraged me. But again I got the chance of working with Katumba when Pride Productions brought him and Elly Wamala for a joint production, Impressorio. As a composer of music, when Katumba returned from exile, I wanted to compose for him. Him singing a song written by me would have improved my profile.
Andrew Lubega, Choir master Masoli church of Uganda
I remember the first group that Jimmy Katumba formed was made up of five people from my church choir including his wife Stella Nanteza. But I also remember clearly that Jimmy had a very outstanding voice. However, his failure was that he was not a composer and there were no people to compose songs for him. If he had known how to compose, he would have made it in the world.
Alex Mukulu, actor and playwright
Katumba respected himself. He refused to stoop so low as to make money at the expense of the quality of his music.
Sam Bagenda, actor with the Ebonies
Before I joined the Ebonies, he was one of the people that interviewed me and later recommended me to be member. Since that time, I began singing with the Ebonies mostly backing him up. I watched him work and never saw him get angry even under pressure. I admired his nature and wealth of talent. I have not seen someone as talented. I learnt a lot from him as my elder. I am following in his footsteps. He inspired me into joining art although I was supposed to become an accountant.
Andrew Benon Kibuuka, Chairman Federation of Performing Arts
After the death of Elly Wamala and now Jimmy Katumba, you can say Uganda has lost a lot in the music fraternity. Jimmy was the first musician whose music took centre stage in the country and also crossed the borders — It was played in East and Central Africa. The standard of his music has never been reached 20 years after his music was seriously being played. Musicians have come up and concerts are being held every week, but it will take a while before we can have such music back.
Rachael Magoola, singer
At the time Jimmy Katumba’s songs were a hit on the streets of Kampala and other parts of the country I was a student. We used to write the lyrics of his songs word per word, and then attempt to sing like him. Everyone wanted to sing like him. One day when I heard he was going to perform in Jinja with the Ebonies, I went to attend the show with an intention of joining him in the Ebonies. But at the time, I preferred Afrigo Band. I just made him my friend and he has always been. He was courteous to those who wanted to learn something from him. He gave me a lot and gave the Uganda music industry much more.
Wassanyi Serukenya, accomplished muscian, composer
He was my beloved among singers. He loved performing with all his strength and had a very strong voice that I equated to the likes of Tom Johns and Jim Reeves from UK, music legends of the 1960s. Whenever I listened to him, I never wanted to stop. But I think he has gone for another assignment. I always believe so.
Julie Ssesanga, musician
I began my vocal code training with Jimmy Katumba when I was still in S.5. His group was hot. It had the likes of Peter Clever and his wife, Stella Nanteza. I remember he used to take us through proper voice training, which upcoming musicians do not have these days. With him, I learnt how to sing in the right note, at the right time, right pitch and right breath. The rich quality voice that people complimented me for is the greatest gift I got from him.
Joanita Kawalya Muganga, Singer Afrigo Band
Jimmy was a lead vocalist who organised spectacular shows. In the 1980s, it was the Ebonies’ concerts you had to give anything to attend. He was the Michael Jackson of Uganda as he displayed his stunts on a smoke-filled stage. He was a consolation to people who had just survived the guerilla war that had ended in 1986. He was the backbone of the Ebonies’ popularity. He performed in churches and his songs related to the community.
Alloysious Matovu Joy, Actor Bakayimbira Dramactors
I came to know Jimmy Katumba when I was at St. Mary’s College Kisubi in 1979. As a member of the School Chapel Choir, I kept thinking, after my studies, I would have to join him. I badly wanted to sing with him. During my O’Level vacation (1979-1980), I wanted to join the Ebonies in rehearsal, but I did not know the tricks or whether I had what it took to join them. Instead, I joined Kampala Dramactors after David Katete encouraged me. But again I got the chance of working with Katumba when Pride Productions brought him and Elly Wamala for a joint production, Impressorio. As a composer of music, when Katumba returned from exile, I wanted to compose for him. Him singing a song written by me would have improved my profile.
Andrew Lubega, Choir master Masoli church of Uganda
I remember the first group that Jimmy Katumba formed was made up of five people from my church choir including his wife Stella Nanteza. But I also remember clearly that Jimmy had a very outstanding voice. However, his failure was that he was not a composer and there were no people to compose songs for him. If he had known how to compose, he would have made it in the world.
Alex Mukulu, actor and playwright
Katumba respected himself. He refused to stoop so low as to make money at the expense of the quality of his music.
Sam Bagenda, actor with the Ebonies
Before I joined the Ebonies, he was one of the people that interviewed me and later recommended me to be member. Since that time, I began singing with the Ebonies mostly backing him up. I watched him work and never saw him get angry even under pressure. I admired his nature and wealth of talent. I have not seen someone as talented. I learnt a lot from him as my elder. I am following in his footsteps. He inspired me into joining art although I was supposed to become an accountant.
Andrew Benon Kibuuka, Chairman Federation of Performing Arts
After the death of Elly Wamala and now Jimmy Katumba, you can say Uganda has lost a lot in the music fraternity. Jimmy was the first musician whose music took centre stage in the country and also crossed the borders — It was played in East and Central Africa. The standard of his music has never been reached 20 years after his music was seriously being played. Musicians have come up and concerts are being held every week, but it will take a while before we can have such music back.