My Wine is mild at home

Mar 03, 2006

BARBARA Itungo is a fiancée to local singer Bobi Wine; they have been together for four years and have a son. They met while acting. Today, they are staying together. She talked to <b>Pidson Kareire</b> about the man in her life.

BARBARA ITUNGO

BARBARA Itungo is a fiancée to local singer Bobi Wine; they have been together for four years and have a son. They met while acting. Today, they are staying together. She talked to Pidson Kareire and below are excerpts.

When did you meet Bobi?

I first met him in December 2001 but we started a serious relationship in February 2002. We were acting in the play Lady will you marry me at the National Theatre. He acted as Mr. Cat and I acted Mouse. He then acted as Mr. President and I acted as a first lady. We spent many days together in rehearsals. He was at campus and I was at Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School.

Where is your ancestral home?

Ntungamo district.

Do you still go to church?
Yes I do. I pray every Sunday. When I am alone, I go to KPC but when I am with Bobi Wine, we go to Kasanga Miracle Centre.

Did you ever smoke?

Me smoking? I have never smoked and I had never seen anyone smoking anything until I came to Kampala.

But Bobi’s fans believe he smokes a strange plant. What do you say about this?

He has branded himself as a bad man from Kamwokya and he says he grows ganja weed and smokes it. I have no comment.

How would you resolve a conflict?

I would listen to all sides and advise accordingly and not take sides. I do not encourage fighting, it is not a solution.

How do you feel about the wrangles among local artistes?

Sometimes I feel they are behaving like people who never went to school, selfish and need some counselling lessons.
They should grow up and respect themselves.

Do you cook or buy snacks?

I have never survived on snacks. For the four years I have spent with Bobi, he has never eaten outside. Even if he comes back home late in the night, he has to ask for his food. sometimes he helps me to cook.

As a born-again Christian, how do you cope with a man whose faith is on worldly things?

What he is to you people outside is not what he is at home. At home, he is a different person. In fact, he is a ladies’ wine.
If he were to be worldly, I would not be with him. He is a God-fearing man. Sometimes he is the one who reminds me to go for prayers. He is also born-again.

What do you do for a living?

I am waiting to graduate in March because I completed last year. Bobi is organising a business for me, so after graduating I will be managing it. I hope by that time Kampala (my son) will have grown.

What did you do at university?

I studied Social Work and Social Administration at Makerere.

Do you have any talent?

Yes. I am a musician and an actress but you people have no chance of seeing me singing. I will never sing but I will act someday.

What is your most precious possession?

Having Bobi as my hubby to me is the most precious. Otherwise, my son is precious but since the father was the first one to meet me, he comes first. So the son is the second and my parents third. Of course, God is above everything.

What is your best drink?

Cold milk.

How do you relax?

I read African books but I do not like watching movies.

BOBI WINE

Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) is a local dancehall artiste who has released hits like Maama Mbire, Taata Wabaana, Funtula and the latest Omwana Wabandi. He talked to Pidson Kareire. below are excerpts.

What is good about being popular?

I get unexpected favours, I mean, I do not need to get into queues. The moment someone identifies me, I am given a go- ahead nod and sometimes people are obliged to listen to my views.

In Omwana Wabandi, you used the word ‘bada’. What does it mean?

‘Bada’ is an abbreviation. I have put sh2m to whoever tells me what it stands for. I can only give them a clue; B, stands for Bobi.

How did you get the idea?

I sing about things that I see, things that affect people and sometimes out of my imagination.

What did you do at university?

I studied music, dance and drama at Makerere and majored in dramatic literature.

How is your family life like?

It feels good that everyday I go back home there is someone to say, “daddy, you are welcome.” I live a private life at home with my God-fearing fiancée, Barbie. My son Solomon Kampala and his mother, Barbie, give me a sense of responsibility at home. They depend on me and every time I see them, it is a reminder for me to work hard and make them happy. This is the reason I need to be alive for their sake.

What would make you mute for sometime at home?

Delaying my lunch because I like food.

When do you become vexed?

Anybody who disrespects women. And, of course, anybody who does not respect my interests vexes me.
What would make you slap Barbie?
I don’t think I can slap her. The best thing to do when I am annoyed is to leave and cool down.

What do you hate about women?
Sometimes women are such a nagging lot. They sometimes choose not to understand and deliberately annoy you.

Most fans believe being indisciplined is part of your lifestyle. Is this true?
That is a stupid thought. We are not indisciplined. It is only that people tend to expect too much from us. I am like any young man with feeling. I go to the bar to drink but when I pick a quarrel it is normal. Anybody can quarrel, religious leaders quarrel in churches, MPs not only quarrel in Parliament but also fight, but when artistes quarrel, newspapers exaggerate it.

What is your favourite scent?
The smell of ganja weed, though even that of pineapple is good

Something surprising about you?
I have a very strong mind and a very weak heart.
Do you have any phobia?
I am allergic to anybody with tinted hair and I fear cats.

Do you worry about growing old?
No. That is why I am called Wine. Wine gets better as it gets old.

If you had a chance of meeting God, what would you ask him?
To resurrect my mother and to close all the police stations and terminate police’s stay on earth because they are not helpful.

What have you learnt about life?
I have learnt that everything including riches is sheer vanity. Man only needs to search for the kingdom of God and the rest will come easily. I have also learnt that the best things on earth are free. No matter what you do for man, he will never be satisfied.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});