Kawesa zooms back with ‘Kanimba’
Mar 02, 2006
The last time many of us heard from singer Richard Kawesa was in 2003 after the release of his Spirit of Africa album.
By Joseph Batte
The last time many of us heard from singer Richard Kawesa was in 2003 after the release of his Spirit of Africa album.
Some fans feared that his creative juices had run dry. However, he was cooking something new in Blue Zebra Studios in Kenya, Base 2 Base Studio in South Africa and Dream Studio in Uganda.
Kawesa has now zoomed back on the music scene with a searing 14-track CD titled Kanimba. (She lied to me)
Listening to this CD, it is hard to believe it was made by a Ugandan artiste.
Kawesa has finally done what many of our local artistes have failed to do — exploring new musical styles that are uniquely rooted in our rich African culture, yet infused with contemporary prospective.
Listening to the CD like being on a musical quest. The melodic hooks are huge.
The arrangements are good, the lyrics witty, insightful, poetic and assertive while the production is nothing less than top notch.
Kanimba is a truly rich and ambitious project that could only be made by a truly musical visionary like Kawesa.
Take an example of Ani Akuba Baby Wange, a blend of ‘Unplugged’, that sounds like good, old Kadongo-kamu where subliminal synths joyfully float along with whistling and other electric-tinged arrangements.
Percussive funky bass-driven Muschana has the strength to power you across the dance floor before Kawesa shifts gears to ‘low’ on Yeyaye.
Siyabonga and gospel-driven Kwata Kwata give a nod to South Africa with particular attention paid to the mbaqanga/scathamiya music style that was popularised by Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo on their Graceland album in 1986.
In Kawunzire, moments of intense beauty are created with ethnic muted tones of the African fiddle as is the call-and-response Yoyo Munange, which bounces with fun.
Another standout track on the CD featuring Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone (vocals and drums) Bobi Wine, Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji is the anthemic Wan Wakwelo Lwen, a plea to the Government and Kony to end the 20-year-old civil war in northern Uganda.
The title track, Kanimba, is a passionate dissection and critique of lying and liars.
It is sang to the tinkering of piano, fiddle, and live percussion.
Kawesa keeps relentless attacks on our senses with sing-along hooks on Topowa, which details the harsh realities of the HIV/AIDS disease and the need to remain faithful in the face of despair.
This is followed by Tonfako, before Kawesa wraps things up with Tunga Tunga, a pulsating hip-hopish bomb that can cause damage on the dance floor.
Kawesa’s full bodied voice powerfully endows each song with palpable strength.
Other contributors on the album include Kenyan producer Tedd Josiah, Eddy Yawe, Tony Haul, Paddy Kayiwa (recording Engineers), Sam Namatiti (keyboards), Emma Mutebi (guitar) and Matiya (fiddle).
This helped to add to the CD's infectious production.
My verdict is: with this simultaneously soothing, energising unique and universal CD, Kawesa has joined the exclusive club of top international World Music artistes like Geoffrey Oryema, Yousour N'Dour, Johnny Clegg, Ismael Lo, Salif Keita and Baba Maal.
Some might say I am raving too much about what essentially is a normal Ugandan pop album. Kanimba is a masterpiece of music imagination that can blow up the World Music charts
Take it or leave it. It is one the favourite candidates for Best Album of the Year come the PAM Awards on October 1.
I highly recommend you listen to this sonic treat, with the volume turned up and prove for yourself.
The last time many of us heard from singer Richard Kawesa was in 2003 after the release of his Spirit of Africa album.
Some fans feared that his creative juices had run dry. However, he was cooking something new in Blue Zebra Studios in Kenya, Base 2 Base Studio in South Africa and Dream Studio in Uganda.
Kawesa has now zoomed back on the music scene with a searing 14-track CD titled Kanimba. (She lied to me)
Listening to this CD, it is hard to believe it was made by a Ugandan artiste.
Kawesa has finally done what many of our local artistes have failed to do — exploring new musical styles that are uniquely rooted in our rich African culture, yet infused with contemporary prospective.
Listening to the CD like being on a musical quest. The melodic hooks are huge.
The arrangements are good, the lyrics witty, insightful, poetic and assertive while the production is nothing less than top notch.
Kanimba is a truly rich and ambitious project that could only be made by a truly musical visionary like Kawesa.
Take an example of Ani Akuba Baby Wange, a blend of ‘Unplugged’, that sounds like good, old Kadongo-kamu where subliminal synths joyfully float along with whistling and other electric-tinged arrangements.
Percussive funky bass-driven Muschana has the strength to power you across the dance floor before Kawesa shifts gears to ‘low’ on Yeyaye.
Siyabonga and gospel-driven Kwata Kwata give a nod to South Africa with particular attention paid to the mbaqanga/scathamiya music style that was popularised by Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo on their Graceland album in 1986.
In Kawunzire, moments of intense beauty are created with ethnic muted tones of the African fiddle as is the call-and-response Yoyo Munange, which bounces with fun.
Another standout track on the CD featuring Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone (vocals and drums) Bobi Wine, Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji is the anthemic Wan Wakwelo Lwen, a plea to the Government and Kony to end the 20-year-old civil war in northern Uganda.
The title track, Kanimba, is a passionate dissection and critique of lying and liars.
It is sang to the tinkering of piano, fiddle, and live percussion.
Kawesa keeps relentless attacks on our senses with sing-along hooks on Topowa, which details the harsh realities of the HIV/AIDS disease and the need to remain faithful in the face of despair.
This is followed by Tonfako, before Kawesa wraps things up with Tunga Tunga, a pulsating hip-hopish bomb that can cause damage on the dance floor.
Kawesa’s full bodied voice powerfully endows each song with palpable strength.
Other contributors on the album include Kenyan producer Tedd Josiah, Eddy Yawe, Tony Haul, Paddy Kayiwa (recording Engineers), Sam Namatiti (keyboards), Emma Mutebi (guitar) and Matiya (fiddle).
This helped to add to the CD's infectious production.
My verdict is: with this simultaneously soothing, energising unique and universal CD, Kawesa has joined the exclusive club of top international World Music artistes like Geoffrey Oryema, Yousour N'Dour, Johnny Clegg, Ismael Lo, Salif Keita and Baba Maal.
Some might say I am raving too much about what essentially is a normal Ugandan pop album. Kanimba is a masterpiece of music imagination that can blow up the World Music charts
Take it or leave it. It is one the favourite candidates for Best Album of the Year come the PAM Awards on October 1.
I highly recommend you listen to this sonic treat, with the volume turned up and prove for yourself.