Foreign promoters bring best out of Ugandan Musicians.
Aug 09, 2007
FOR most Ugandan musicians in the early 80’s to late 90’s the dream of traveling abroad to do music shows remained only that; a dream! Fast forward; today local artistes spoilt for choice. They talk of the foreign trips just like they would about making a trip next door. <br>
By Vision Reporter
FOR most Ugandan musicians in the early 80’s to late 90’s the dream of traveling abroad to do music shows remained only that; a dream! Fast forward; today local artistes spoilt for choice. They talk of the foreign trips just like they would about making a trip next door.
Ugandan artistes are very big in the Diaspora as they are back home. On average, prolific artistes, Like Bobi Wine, Ragga Dee, Jose Chameleone, Iryn Namubiru and the Eagles Production Band make more than three trips a year to the United Kingdom, the Schengen countries and the United States.
It is no longer about these top artistes. Just about any budding musician has graced the stage abroad, the experience and exposure has played a big role in boosting their burgeoning careers. Artistes like Tool Man of the famed Kisumuluzo song, Peter Miles and Menshan, the Jeckaki band Sarah Short, Chagga, and Abdu Mulasi etal can attest to it.
For all the travails they have faced during their foreign travels, most Ugandan artistes concur that Sweden is one of the best places to perform abroad. Most of the artistes are full of praises for Stockholm based Mama Africa entertainment owned by Jib Katende, a Ugandan born Swede. They believe it is where their true fan base is, considering that Mama Africa entertainment specializes in Roots Reggae, Lovers Rock, Dancehall and African beat!
Artistes like the “king of rhyme’ Ragga Dee, “The Championâ€, Jose Chameleone, “The Smart Rasta†Abdu Mulaasi, “The Ghetto Presidentâ€, Bobi Wine, Chagga Yaga, Nubian Li, Juliana Kanyomozi and Dr. Tee are some of the top Ugandans who have come out in the open to say how they owe part of their success to Mama Africa Entertainment.
“What I love about Stockholm is the big number of fans of African music. Whenever I play my music there, my fan base isn’t only Ugandans. I have Kenyans, Rwandese, Nigerians and Ugandans clamouring for my music. The last time was there, they really liked my music, especially my collabo with Dr. Alban,†Jose Chameleone notes.
Bobi Wine, Buchaman and Nubian Li, who as the firebase crew have swept musical accolades home, speak fondly of Stockholm. He might since has sung more captivating songs, but for as long as his duet with Julianna Maama w’a baana plays, his mind switches to a captivating show he had at the Mama Africa club, two years back. The song left a very big impact on the fans in Sweden, they baptized me His Excellency. I have maintained the title since then and would be very glad to play in Sweden on any day, “Bobi Wine says in an interview.
He says that While in Sweden he fraternized with some Jamaican artistes like Tanya Stevens, Julian Marley, Junior Kelly and Dennis Foster whose input has also bolstered Bobi Wine’s music career.
For Abdul Mulaasi, a first time traveler, Stockholm had such a big impact, when he returned home, he had to sing about the cold (He visited during winter) and the lack of solid food. He notes that by his second trip, he had acclimatized and it was a learning experience for some one famed for singing Kadongo Kamu (thumb piano music). Today, most of his latest releases are doted with lines on his music experiences abroad.
FOR most Ugandan musicians in the early 80’s to late 90’s the dream of traveling abroad to do music shows remained only that; a dream! Fast forward; today local artistes spoilt for choice. They talk of the foreign trips just like they would about making a trip next door.
Ugandan artistes are very big in the Diaspora as they are back home. On average, prolific artistes, Like Bobi Wine, Ragga Dee, Jose Chameleone, Iryn Namubiru and the Eagles Production Band make more than three trips a year to the United Kingdom, the Schengen countries and the United States.
It is no longer about these top artistes. Just about any budding musician has graced the stage abroad, the experience and exposure has played a big role in boosting their burgeoning careers. Artistes like Tool Man of the famed Kisumuluzo song, Peter Miles and Menshan, the Jeckaki band Sarah Short, Chagga, and Abdu Mulasi etal can attest to it.
For all the travails they have faced during their foreign travels, most Ugandan artistes concur that Sweden is one of the best places to perform abroad. Most of the artistes are full of praises for Stockholm based Mama Africa entertainment owned by Jib Katende, a Ugandan born Swede. They believe it is where their true fan base is, considering that Mama Africa entertainment specializes in Roots Reggae, Lovers Rock, Dancehall and African beat!
Artistes like the “king of rhyme’ Ragga Dee, “The Championâ€, Jose Chameleone, “The Smart Rasta†Abdu Mulaasi, “The Ghetto Presidentâ€, Bobi Wine, Chagga Yaga, Nubian Li, Juliana Kanyomozi and Dr. Tee are some of the top Ugandans who have come out in the open to say how they owe part of their success to Mama Africa Entertainment.
“What I love about Stockholm is the big number of fans of African music. Whenever I play my music there, my fan base isn’t only Ugandans. I have Kenyans, Rwandese, Nigerians and Ugandans clamouring for my music. The last time was there, they really liked my music, especially my collabo with Dr. Alban,†Jose Chameleone notes.
Bobi Wine, Buchaman and Nubian Li, who as the firebase crew have swept musical accolades home, speak fondly of Stockholm. He might since has sung more captivating songs, but for as long as his duet with Julianna Maama w’a baana plays, his mind switches to a captivating show he had at the Mama Africa club, two years back. The song left a very big impact on the fans in Sweden, they baptized me His Excellency. I have maintained the title since then and would be very glad to play in Sweden on any day, “Bobi Wine says in an interview.
He says that While in Sweden he fraternized with some Jamaican artistes like Tanya Stevens, Julian Marley, Junior Kelly and Dennis Foster whose input has also bolstered Bobi Wine’s music career.
For Abdul Mulaasi, a first time traveler, Stockholm had such a big impact, when he returned home, he had to sing about the cold (He visited during winter) and the lack of solid food. He notes that by his second trip, he had acclimatized and it was a learning experience for some one famed for singing Kadongo Kamu (thumb piano music). Today, most of his latest releases are doted with lines on his music experiences abroad.