Kyagulanyi scoops VIGA award

Jul 07, 2008

Celebrated local music writer/singer Sylvester Kyagulanyi was on Saturday declared this year’s Victoria Gospel Music Awards (VIGA) ‘artiste of the year’ at a colourful function at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

By Mathias Mazinga

Celebrated local music writer/singer Sylvester Kyagulanyi was on Saturday declared this year’s Victoria Gospel Music Awards (VIGA) ‘artiste of the year’ at a colourful function at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

Kyagulanyi’s award-winning song, Olunaku Luno, was also voted the best-produced song and best-produced video.

Kagulanyi did not only walk away with the award but also won a return air-ticket to the UK.

The second of its kind, this year’s VIGA event proved its interdenominational character by attracting artistes and fans from various Christian denominations.

The chief guest, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, commended the chief executive of the VIGA Awards, Prince Nicholas Nnyombi, for his efforts to take gospel music to another level. He contributed sh200,000 towards the project.

Nnyombi said he started the VIGA project to encourage excellence in Gospel music and to enable gospel artistes earn a living.

Earlier, Uganda’s Honorary Consul to Pakistan, Bonney Katatumba, launched the VIGA Magazine, which will be published every three months.

The event was punctuated by performances from various local gospel artistes and groups, including Calvary Band, Generation Boys, Julie Deborah, Pastor Wilson Bugembe and the maestro of Rock n’ Roll, Rockamilly.

The event was, however, lacking in terms of organisation. The function was prolonged and many fans left before the crowning of the best artiste.

The guest artiste, Kenya’s Ambassada, who was supposed to perform at the end of the show, missed out because the audience had left.

Other Winners of the night

Video of the year
Kannyimbe — Julianna Kanyomozi

Best-produced song/producer
Olunaku Luno — Sylvester Kyagulanyi, Jason Kiwa

Best dance group
Kiwedde — God’s Army

New song/artiste
Oli Kimuli Kyange, Jehovah — Julie Deborah

Worship song/artiste
Nkwagala Mukama — God Given Band

Best live band song/artiste
Nze Mukwano Gwo —
Moses Majjode

Hip Hop song artiste
Eyo Geyeena — Lil Nas

Ragga, dance hall song/artiste
Praise God — Bebe Cool and Tickietah

R&B song/artiste
I feel So Good — Reformed Clan

Kadongokamu song/artiste:
Akaligenda mu Ggulu — Richard Kulumba

Afro-pop song/artiste Cheza — Generation Boys

Best instrumentalist
Isaiah Katumwa

Best Diaspora artiste
Fiona Mukasa

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