Nvanungi back with new album
IN 2003, she had her first hit, <i>Doctor</i>, and in 2004, she won the Pearl of Africa Music Award for Female Artiste of The Year, memorably performing in front of a big audience at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
By Gilbert Mwijuke
IN 2003, she had her first hit, Doctor, and in 2004, she won the Pearl of Africa Music Award for Female Artiste of The Year, memorably performing in front of a big audience at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
That was the last most people heard from Princess Sheillah Nvanungi, save for ardent CBS FM listeners, who continued to catch her live on the station’s Mulengera Express.
An attempted return to the scene in 2006 was futile, after her second studio album, Malaika, failed to make the perfect follow-up to the full-blown success of Doctor.
You would forgive anyone for thinking that we had seen the last of her.
But, to slip is not necessarily to fall. So, instead of indulging in self-pity, the princess cast her frustrations aside, and went back to the drawing board, seeking out the services of star songwriter Sylver Kyagulanyi, who penned three songs for her—Amaka Mazibu, Omulangira and a yet-to-be-titled gospel track.
Nvanungi wrote a few more tracks and then employed the services of acclaimed producers Paddy Kayiwa of Dream Studios, Henry Kiwuwa from No End and BK Studio’s Joe Tabula. The result was a worthwhile effort — a 10-song album, which the singer-cum-radio presenter hopes to release within the next few weeks.
Nvanungi may not be certain what the title of the album will be, but she drops a hint: “I’ll either call it Bifekeera or Omulangira, depending on what my audience likes most.â€
Although you cannot put Bifekeera — which is currently enjoying ample airplay on some local FM radios — in the mould of Doctor, its haunting melody and message-laden lyrics make it a good come-back song for Nvanungi.
The song bashes indisciplined rich men who take other people’s lives as nothing but ‘trash’.
She then wonders what kind of name would suit her dream man and comes up with Omulangira, a laid-back track which comes with prominent guitar sounds and Nvanungi’s high, clear voice. “Since I am a princess, I think my dream man should be a mulangira (prince),†she says.
Biwawatiro (wings) is a mid-tempo, afro-beat love ballad about a lover who has given her “wingsâ€, but she keeps in mind that she cannot fly. The singer waits anxiously for Mr. Right on Aliludawa? (Where is he?), before shifting focus from love to family issues on Amaka Mazibu, in which she cites and provides solutions to family problems.
Nvanungi’s attempt at Swahili on Nakupenda, which features Tanzanian singer Q-Chief, is reminiscent of Juliana Kanyomozi and Bushoke’s mega hit, Usiyende Mbali.
What remains to be seen is whether Nakupenda will make Nvanungi the regional star she aims to be.
IN 2003, she had her first hit, Doctor, and in 2004, she won the Pearl of Africa Music Award for Female Artiste of The Year, memorably performing in front of a big audience at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
That was the last most people heard from Princess Sheillah Nvanungi, save for ardent CBS FM listeners, who continued to catch her live on the station’s Mulengera Express.
An attempted return to the scene in 2006 was futile, after her second studio album, Malaika, failed to make the perfect follow-up to the full-blown success of Doctor.
You would forgive anyone for thinking that we had seen the last of her.
But, to slip is not necessarily to fall. So, instead of indulging in self-pity, the princess cast her frustrations aside, and went back to the drawing board, seeking out the services of star songwriter Sylver Kyagulanyi, who penned three songs for her—Amaka Mazibu, Omulangira and a yet-to-be-titled gospel track.
Nvanungi wrote a few more tracks and then employed the services of acclaimed producers Paddy Kayiwa of Dream Studios, Henry Kiwuwa from No End and BK Studio’s Joe Tabula. The result was a worthwhile effort — a 10-song album, which the singer-cum-radio presenter hopes to release within the next few weeks.
Nvanungi may not be certain what the title of the album will be, but she drops a hint: “I’ll either call it Bifekeera or Omulangira, depending on what my audience likes most.â€
Although you cannot put Bifekeera — which is currently enjoying ample airplay on some local FM radios — in the mould of Doctor, its haunting melody and message-laden lyrics make it a good come-back song for Nvanungi.
The song bashes indisciplined rich men who take other people’s lives as nothing but ‘trash’.
She then wonders what kind of name would suit her dream man and comes up with Omulangira, a laid-back track which comes with prominent guitar sounds and Nvanungi’s high, clear voice. “Since I am a princess, I think my dream man should be a mulangira (prince),†she says.
Biwawatiro (wings) is a mid-tempo, afro-beat love ballad about a lover who has given her “wingsâ€, but she keeps in mind that she cannot fly. The singer waits anxiously for Mr. Right on Aliludawa? (Where is he?), before shifting focus from love to family issues on Amaka Mazibu, in which she cites and provides solutions to family problems.
Nvanungi’s attempt at Swahili on Nakupenda, which features Tanzanian singer Q-Chief, is reminiscent of Juliana Kanyomozi and Bushoke’s mega hit, Usiyende Mbali.
What remains to be seen is whether Nakupenda will make Nvanungi the regional star she aims to be.