2007 a year of the musical underdog
Dec 27, 2007
FOR the bigger part of this decade, the local music industry has been dominated by a few recurring names. A concert in Kampala was considered incomplete without Bobi Wine, Chameleone, Bebe Cool, Mesach Semakula, Iryn Namubiru, Juliana Kanyomozi and Ragga Dee.
By Gilbert Mwijuke
FOR the bigger part of this decade, the local music industry has been dominated by a few recurring names. A concert in Kampala was considered incomplete without Bobi Wine, Chameleone, Bebe Cool, Mesach Semakula, Iryn Namubiru, Juliana Kanyomozi and Ragga Dee.
Yet these artistes did not just stop at dominating concerts — they also dominated radio charts. Remember when a Chameleone song could be heard on different radio countdowns at the same time? Consequently, they have dominated the coveted categories of the Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM) — Best Male and Female, Artiste of The Year and Song of The Year.
But 2007 saw a diversion from the norm. The industry witnessed the meteoric rise of Ronald Mayinja and Sophie Nantongo, who joined the big league. Mayinja, who had for long been eluded by national recognition, managed to cause some ripples at this year’s PAM Awards.
He took home the most coveted musical title in the land — Artiste of The Year as well as Song of The Year (Africa), Album of The Year (Abalina Sente) and Best Live Band Single (Africa) accolades.
Sophie Nantongo, on the other hand, managed to dislodge Chameleone from the Artiste of The Year nomination list, while her album, Amaggwa got a nod in the Album of The Year category.
The year 2007 will be remembered as the year when the big artistes apathetically gave way for smaller ones to shine.
Lady Mariam, Sarah Zawedde, Dr. Hilderman, Roni Banton, Toolman, Henry Tigan and Bella are testimony to this. These artistes gave the Bobi Wines and Iryn Namubirus of this world a run for their money!
The current trends in the Ugandan music industry suggest that any artiste can come out of the blue and rock the charts.
Lady Mariam, for example, showed us that a withdrawn salon girl from Mbarara in western Uganda can make a hit that gets everyone — from Mbarara to Busia and Kampala to Arua — singing along.
Her debut hit, Tindatiine, did exactly that.
After years of backing up Percussion Discussion Africa, Sarah Zawedde defiantly kicked down industry doors and announced her arrival with the chartbusting Kambeere Naawe.
This earned her a PAM Award nod for the hottest female artiste in the land!
Just out of the blue, Dr. Hilderman emerged to add arguably the most popular phrase to our lingua in 2007 through his hit song, Double Bed Mazongoto.
That it was nominated in the Song of The Year category in this year’s PAM Awards tells just how big this song was. After years of struggling, Roni Banton finally arrived with Kawuna, which earned him a nod in the Best New Artiste category in this year’s PAM Awards.
Like Roni Banton — after what seemed like a lifetime in the musical background — Toolman also emerged out of the shadows. His song, Kisumuluzo, was one of the biggest club hits of 2007.
A playful flirt and a witty raconteur, Rocky Giant proved that he is a first-rate rapper to rival the very best in the land!
His latest hit, Paka Last, is the reason he was voted Hip-Hop Artiste of The Year. Bella also had a good time with two hits in Fasi and Dodo, which effectively earned her the title of dancehall queen.
Henry Tigan emerged the hottest newcomer, launching over four big hits in five months! These include Emiranga, Lwaki Oninza, My Country and Aboogezi.
Well, what remains to be seen is whether these artistes can sustain the standards they have attained this year in 2008.
FOR the bigger part of this decade, the local music industry has been dominated by a few recurring names. A concert in Kampala was considered incomplete without Bobi Wine, Chameleone, Bebe Cool, Mesach Semakula, Iryn Namubiru, Juliana Kanyomozi and Ragga Dee.
Yet these artistes did not just stop at dominating concerts — they also dominated radio charts. Remember when a Chameleone song could be heard on different radio countdowns at the same time? Consequently, they have dominated the coveted categories of the Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM) — Best Male and Female, Artiste of The Year and Song of The Year.
But 2007 saw a diversion from the norm. The industry witnessed the meteoric rise of Ronald Mayinja and Sophie Nantongo, who joined the big league. Mayinja, who had for long been eluded by national recognition, managed to cause some ripples at this year’s PAM Awards.
He took home the most coveted musical title in the land — Artiste of The Year as well as Song of The Year (Africa), Album of The Year (Abalina Sente) and Best Live Band Single (Africa) accolades.
Sophie Nantongo, on the other hand, managed to dislodge Chameleone from the Artiste of The Year nomination list, while her album, Amaggwa got a nod in the Album of The Year category.
The year 2007 will be remembered as the year when the big artistes apathetically gave way for smaller ones to shine.
Lady Mariam, Sarah Zawedde, Dr. Hilderman, Roni Banton, Toolman, Henry Tigan and Bella are testimony to this. These artistes gave the Bobi Wines and Iryn Namubirus of this world a run for their money!
The current trends in the Ugandan music industry suggest that any artiste can come out of the blue and rock the charts.
Lady Mariam, for example, showed us that a withdrawn salon girl from Mbarara in western Uganda can make a hit that gets everyone — from Mbarara to Busia and Kampala to Arua — singing along.
Her debut hit, Tindatiine, did exactly that.
After years of backing up Percussion Discussion Africa, Sarah Zawedde defiantly kicked down industry doors and announced her arrival with the chartbusting Kambeere Naawe.
This earned her a PAM Award nod for the hottest female artiste in the land!
Just out of the blue, Dr. Hilderman emerged to add arguably the most popular phrase to our lingua in 2007 through his hit song, Double Bed Mazongoto.
That it was nominated in the Song of The Year category in this year’s PAM Awards tells just how big this song was. After years of struggling, Roni Banton finally arrived with Kawuna, which earned him a nod in the Best New Artiste category in this year’s PAM Awards.
Like Roni Banton — after what seemed like a lifetime in the musical background — Toolman also emerged out of the shadows. His song, Kisumuluzo, was one of the biggest club hits of 2007.
A playful flirt and a witty raconteur, Rocky Giant proved that he is a first-rate rapper to rival the very best in the land!
His latest hit, Paka Last, is the reason he was voted Hip-Hop Artiste of The Year. Bella also had a good time with two hits in Fasi and Dodo, which effectively earned her the title of dancehall queen.
Henry Tigan emerged the hottest newcomer, launching over four big hits in five months! These include Emiranga, Lwaki Oninza, My Country and Aboogezi.
Well, what remains to be seen is whether these artistes can sustain the standards they have attained this year in 2008.