Hundreds mourn Fred Masagazi
Hundreds of mourners yesterday gathered at the National Theatre to pay their last respects to one of the greatest singers of local country music.
By Pidson Kareire
Hundreds of mourners yesterday gathered at the National Theatre to pay their last respects to one of the greatest singers of local country music.
Fred Hannington Masagazi Muwonge, 72, died on Monday night at Mulago Hospital after he suffered from a short illness.
One of the mourners, Benon Kibuka, a playwright and actor, said Masagazi performed normally at Kampala Club on Friday night.
However, he complained of stomachache the following night and was rushed to Mulago.
Calm mourners yesterday queued past his coffin that lay in state for two hours in the auditorium.
Masagazi is one of Uganda’s greatest musicians who pioneered the recording of local music.
His maiden song, Atanawa Musolo, was released a year before independence in 1961 urging people to pay taxes.
He later released Osaana Okole in 1962 to ridicule idlers and laziness.
Another love hit, Lucy Tuula, was dancehall’s favourite in 1963.
He started singing way back in 1955. He founded his own band, UK Jazz Band, in 1963.
One of his songs, Kolazizo was the first Ugandan song to be played on the BBC in London.
A close friend and fellow artiste, Andrew Kyambadde, said Masagazi opened the way for Ugandans to travel to Kenya to perform and record music.
“After Masagazi recorded his debut song in Nairobi, other Ugandans started flocking there,†Kyambadde said.
The state minister for the elderly, Sulaiman Madada, delivered condolences from the Government to Masagazi’s family.
Grace Masagazi, the deceased’s second-eldest daughter, described her father as a friendly person who valued friendship.
She said he is survived by a widow, five daughters, three sons and nine grand-children.
The artistes and friends offered to pay school fees for the three children who are were still in secondary school.
Joseph Magandanzi of Jomayi Property Masters paid for the entire cost of Masagazi’s burial in Mpererwe, a city suburb last evening.
Several music lovers described his death as a shock, which came two days after the demise of Charles Senkyanzi, one of the leading vocalists in Afrigo Band.
Senkyanzi, aged 60, also a renowned music icon with a career that has spanned over four decades, died of kidney failure on Sunday.
Hundreds of mourners yesterday gathered at the National Theatre to pay their last respects to one of the greatest singers of local country music.
Fred Hannington Masagazi Muwonge, 72, died on Monday night at Mulago Hospital after he suffered from a short illness.
One of the mourners, Benon Kibuka, a playwright and actor, said Masagazi performed normally at Kampala Club on Friday night.
However, he complained of stomachache the following night and was rushed to Mulago.
Calm mourners yesterday queued past his coffin that lay in state for two hours in the auditorium.
Masagazi is one of Uganda’s greatest musicians who pioneered the recording of local music.
His maiden song, Atanawa Musolo, was released a year before independence in 1961 urging people to pay taxes.
He later released Osaana Okole in 1962 to ridicule idlers and laziness.
Another love hit, Lucy Tuula, was dancehall’s favourite in 1963.
He started singing way back in 1955. He founded his own band, UK Jazz Band, in 1963.
One of his songs, Kolazizo was the first Ugandan song to be played on the BBC in London.
A close friend and fellow artiste, Andrew Kyambadde, said Masagazi opened the way for Ugandans to travel to Kenya to perform and record music.
“After Masagazi recorded his debut song in Nairobi, other Ugandans started flocking there,†Kyambadde said.
The state minister for the elderly, Sulaiman Madada, delivered condolences from the Government to Masagazi’s family.
Grace Masagazi, the deceased’s second-eldest daughter, described her father as a friendly person who valued friendship.
She said he is survived by a widow, five daughters, three sons and nine grand-children.
The artistes and friends offered to pay school fees for the three children who are were still in secondary school.
Joseph Magandanzi of Jomayi Property Masters paid for the entire cost of Masagazi’s burial in Mpererwe, a city suburb last evening.
Several music lovers described his death as a shock, which came two days after the demise of Charles Senkyanzi, one of the leading vocalists in Afrigo Band.
Senkyanzi, aged 60, also a renowned music icon with a career that has spanned over four decades, died of kidney failure on Sunday.