Philly Lutaaya ‘resurrects’
Nov 08, 2007
WHAT started out as mere musing between a journalist and three prominent local artistes at a get-together party in Zana, Bunamwaya, in a home next to the late Philly Lutaaya’s burial place early last year, has culminated in a historical album.<br>
By Vision reporters
WHAT started out as mere musing between a journalist and three prominent local artistes at a get-together party in Zana, Bunamwaya, in a home next to the late Philly Lutaaya’s burial place early last year, has culminated in a historical album.
The journalist was Sebidde Kiryowa and the artistes were Mesach Semakula, Jose Chameloene and Bebe Cool. The idea was to find a way to raise money to honour Lutaaya’s memory and continue his legacy as an AIDS activist.
As a result, leading Ugandan artistes have put together a tribute album to the departed Ugandan musical legend. The album comprises about 10 renditions of some of Philly’s popular songs re-mixed in contemporary Ugandan pop music styles by some of Uganda’s leading artistes.
The album is due out this month.
The album, the first of its kind in Ugandan musical history, will result in a Philly Lutaaya memorial concert slated for December 16, 2007 at Nakivubo Stadium.
Dubbed One Voice One Goal:
Resounding the Voice the Legendary Philly Lutaaya, the concert will feature all the artistes who have re-recorded Lutaaya’s songs as well as others who will play live versions of both theirs and Lutaaya’s songs.
Moses Bunya, one of the project initiators and coordinator, says the concert is not only meant to celebrate the life and legacy of an artiste that has inspired generations of musicians but also “seeks to use his music to make a difference in the lives of Ugandans by re-sounding, not just his legendary voice, but also a message of hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS.â€
The initiative is organised by Philly Lutaaya Memorial, a community- based organisation comprising friends and family of the late Lutaaya and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development through the Uganda Programme for Human and Holistic Development. YEAH, UHMG, the private and civil society sectors.
Amongst the songs that are already enjoying commendable airplay is Iryn Namubiru’s reggae-tinged version of Lutaaya’s Empisazo (off Lutaaya’s critically acclaimed Born In Africa album and Bebe Cool’s rendition of the Philly Lutaaya signature patriotic reggae smash hit Born In Africa.
Other artistes include little known Abbey Ziwa’s version of Lutaaya’s acclaimed nostalgic anthem Entebbe Wala in which the singer, who was based in Sweden, paints the forlorn picture of working a long way from his loved ones in Uganda.
Mesach Semakula tackles the preachy Nakazaana in which Lutaaya lectures his sister about how best to treat her man while Joe Tabula sings Nfunda N’omubi Agondera a song in which
Lutaaya declares he would rather deal with a physically challenged woman who is subservient to him than a looker who will not accord him his due respect as her husband.
Ngoni bring a rather fresh reggae feel Nazza Gwaki, in which, like ,i>Empisazo, Lutaaya role-played a woman who this time tells off her detractors who spread rumours to destroy her reputation. The song is probably the best interpretation of a Lutaaya song to date with excellent production, vocal arrangement and sound.
Kabuye Semboga, probably Uganda’s most underrated vocalist tries out, one of those pop classics in which Lutaaya pays respect to his fallen comrade. Though the production and mastering leave a lot to be desired, the song is a fair try by Sembogo.
Singer Jose Chameleone brings his charisma and guttural vocals to Nkoye with amazing results, while producer-cum-singer Eddie Yawe breathes new life in the not-so- known
Muserebende and Nkowola, both earlier works of Lutaaya, with his production expertise and incredibly sultry voice.
Juliana Kanyomozi and Hum-K, one of Gospel music’s best kept vocal secrets are expected to sing Alone & Frightened, while Geoffrey Lutaaya is yet to complete Hanifa. Roots Rookaz’s Jenkins Mukasa has also given the complex Osobola Otya a try. Bobi Wine and Nubian Lee are also part of the project.
Lutaaya was arguably the prominent African to publicly declare his positive HIV status in 1988. He immediately released the educative Alone and Frightened album.
He died a year later. He has since been seen to have given a human face to HIV/AIDS.
Artistes who have redone Philly's songs
1. Bebe Cool
2. Iryn Namubiru
3. Juliana Kanyomozi
4. Jose Chameleon
5. Mesach Semakula
6. Philly Lutaaya
WHAT started out as mere musing between a journalist and three prominent local artistes at a get-together party in Zana, Bunamwaya, in a home next to the late Philly Lutaaya’s burial place early last year, has culminated in a historical album.
The journalist was Sebidde Kiryowa and the artistes were Mesach Semakula, Jose Chameloene and Bebe Cool. The idea was to find a way to raise money to honour Lutaaya’s memory and continue his legacy as an AIDS activist.
As a result, leading Ugandan artistes have put together a tribute album to the departed Ugandan musical legend. The album comprises about 10 renditions of some of Philly’s popular songs re-mixed in contemporary Ugandan pop music styles by some of Uganda’s leading artistes.
The album is due out this month.
The album, the first of its kind in Ugandan musical history, will result in a Philly Lutaaya memorial concert slated for December 16, 2007 at Nakivubo Stadium.
Dubbed One Voice One Goal:
Resounding the Voice the Legendary Philly Lutaaya, the concert will feature all the artistes who have re-recorded Lutaaya’s songs as well as others who will play live versions of both theirs and Lutaaya’s songs.
Moses Bunya, one of the project initiators and coordinator, says the concert is not only meant to celebrate the life and legacy of an artiste that has inspired generations of musicians but also “seeks to use his music to make a difference in the lives of Ugandans by re-sounding, not just his legendary voice, but also a message of hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS.â€
The initiative is organised by Philly Lutaaya Memorial, a community- based organisation comprising friends and family of the late Lutaaya and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development through the Uganda Programme for Human and Holistic Development. YEAH, UHMG, the private and civil society sectors.
Amongst the songs that are already enjoying commendable airplay is Iryn Namubiru’s reggae-tinged version of Lutaaya’s Empisazo (off Lutaaya’s critically acclaimed Born In Africa album and Bebe Cool’s rendition of the Philly Lutaaya signature patriotic reggae smash hit Born In Africa.
Other artistes include little known Abbey Ziwa’s version of Lutaaya’s acclaimed nostalgic anthem Entebbe Wala in which the singer, who was based in Sweden, paints the forlorn picture of working a long way from his loved ones in Uganda.
Mesach Semakula tackles the preachy Nakazaana in which Lutaaya lectures his sister about how best to treat her man while Joe Tabula sings Nfunda N’omubi Agondera a song in which
Lutaaya declares he would rather deal with a physically challenged woman who is subservient to him than a looker who will not accord him his due respect as her husband.
Ngoni bring a rather fresh reggae feel Nazza Gwaki, in which, like ,i>Empisazo, Lutaaya role-played a woman who this time tells off her detractors who spread rumours to destroy her reputation. The song is probably the best interpretation of a Lutaaya song to date with excellent production, vocal arrangement and sound.
Kabuye Semboga, probably Uganda’s most underrated vocalist tries out
Singer Jose Chameleone brings his charisma and guttural vocals to Nkoye with amazing results, while producer-cum-singer Eddie Yawe breathes new life in the not-so- known
Muserebende and Nkowola, both earlier works of Lutaaya, with his production expertise and incredibly sultry voice.
Juliana Kanyomozi and Hum-K, one of Gospel music’s best kept vocal secrets are expected to sing Alone & Frightened, while Geoffrey Lutaaya is yet to complete Hanifa. Roots Rookaz’s Jenkins Mukasa has also given the complex Osobola Otya a try. Bobi Wine and Nubian Lee are also part of the project.
Lutaaya was arguably the prominent African to publicly declare his positive HIV status in 1988. He immediately released the educative Alone and Frightened album.
He died a year later. He has since been seen to have given a human face to HIV/AIDS.
Artistes who have redone Philly's songs
1. Bebe Cool
2. Iryn Namubiru
3. Juliana Kanyomozi
4. Jose Chameleon
5. Mesach Semakula
6. Philly Lutaaya