Juliana is Uganda's 2008 musician
SINGER Juliana Kanyomozi is Uganda’s best musician of 2008. The 29-year-old became the first female artiste to win the coveted Artiste of the Year accolade at the sixth Pearl of Africa Music awards at Shimoni grounds in Kampala on Saturday.
By Jude Katende
and Gilbert Mwijuke
SINGER Juliana Kanyomozi is Uganda’s best musician of 2008. The 29-year-old became the first female artiste to win the coveted Artiste of the Year accolade at the sixth Pearl of Africa Music awards at Shimoni grounds in Kampala on Saturday. For this, she won a sh10m cash prize.
Juliana also took home the best R&B artiste and best female artiste accolades. She beat Desire Luzinda, Catherine Kusasira and Iryn Namubiru to the latter award which carries a cash prize of sh3.5m. Altogether Juliana won sh14.5m.
The top award had for the past five years eluded women. The nominations were also dominated by males.
Kanyomozi beat singers Bebe Cool, Geoffrey Lutaaya and Bobi Wine who had been expected to take the prize. “I am overwhelmed. I cannot believe I beat these good musicians,†Juliana said on phone yesterday morning. “I thought Bobi Wine would take it!â€
She added: “I need to collect myself because this is too much. In the 10 years of my singing career, I have gone through a lot including abuses but tonight people have spoken.â€
She dedicated the award to her father whom she said realised her potential when she was only 16 years and encouraged her to sing. She also dedicated it her fellow female artists whom she said could as well have made it. “It is not about one’s sex. It is about music.â€
The occasion was attended by high profile people who included the Buganda queen, Sylvia Nagginda. Her open-back dress turned heads.
(Full coverage under LIFESTYLE)
and Gilbert Mwijuke
SINGER Juliana Kanyomozi is Uganda’s best musician of 2008. The 29-year-old became the first female artiste to win the coveted Artiste of the Year accolade at the sixth Pearl of Africa Music awards at Shimoni grounds in Kampala on Saturday. For this, she won a sh10m cash prize.
Juliana also took home the best R&B artiste and best female artiste accolades. She beat Desire Luzinda, Catherine Kusasira and Iryn Namubiru to the latter award which carries a cash prize of sh3.5m. Altogether Juliana won sh14.5m.
The top award had for the past five years eluded women. The nominations were also dominated by males.
Kanyomozi beat singers Bebe Cool, Geoffrey Lutaaya and Bobi Wine who had been expected to take the prize. “I am overwhelmed. I cannot believe I beat these good musicians,†Juliana said on phone yesterday morning. “I thought Bobi Wine would take it!â€
She added: “I need to collect myself because this is too much. In the 10 years of my singing career, I have gone through a lot including abuses but tonight people have spoken.â€
She dedicated the award to her father whom she said realised her potential when she was only 16 years and encouraged her to sing. She also dedicated it her fellow female artists whom she said could as well have made it. “It is not about one’s sex. It is about music.â€
The occasion was attended by high profile people who included the Buganda queen, Sylvia Nagginda. Her open-back dress turned heads.
(Full coverage under LIFESTYLE)