We Bid Farewell To Our Dear Afrigo’s Wawawa
In the early 1990s, the song Oh Mama Wange was a very big hit. It was the Dorotia of those days.
By Denis Jjuuko
In the early 1990s, the song Oh Mama Wange was a very big hit. It was the Dorotia of those days. The song came straight to our homes courtesy of one giant Congolese-cum-Ugandan Atib Amigo Wawawa. Unfortunately, the voice behind that song was announced dead on Labour Day. Amigo Wawawa died at Mulago Hospital where he was rushed after falling and hitting his head on the ground due to an attack caused by high blood pressure. He was buried in Mityana on Tuesday.
He was popular with the music fans who loved his ability to make exhilarating sounds out of the guitar. His other songs were Safari, Ekikere Kiri Kumbata and Vincent.
Amigo was born in Kindu in the former Zaire but his father migrated to Uganda due to fighting in the area. Amigo was then nine years old and already a singer. They settled in Arua and he became the darling of this town. He performed with his musician father, Atib Iteitei at the White Rhino in Arua.
In the mid 1970s, he moved to Kampala and joined Kaumba Jazz Band. In 1976, he started up his own Tell Me Sorry Band. The band collapsed and he then formed Wawawa Jazz Band, which also followed his first one to the grave. He then moved to Afrigo Band, which he quit moments later to start up Afrigo Two Band that also bowed out. But Amigo was a performer who loved forming bands and nothing would stop him. In 1992, he came up with Waka Waka Band and his first assignment was the release of Oh Mama Wange.
In 1999, he quit Afrigo Band to start up Dembe Musica. His new band also gave way and he joined Simba Sounds among other bands.
On Belgium King Day in November last year, we had a chat about his music and life.
And the echoes of his guitar made the Belgian diplomats swing their bodies. His sweet vocals in songs such as Tambola na-Mokili by the late Jean Bokelo made it for me. Then he gave us Mado by the late Franco. It was such a wonderful evening.
He is survived by six children; two live in Switzerland while his wife Shamsa and children live in the family home in Nakulabye. Ends
In the early 1990s, the song Oh Mama Wange was a very big hit. It was the Dorotia of those days. The song came straight to our homes courtesy of one giant Congolese-cum-Ugandan Atib Amigo Wawawa. Unfortunately, the voice behind that song was announced dead on Labour Day. Amigo Wawawa died at Mulago Hospital where he was rushed after falling and hitting his head on the ground due to an attack caused by high blood pressure. He was buried in Mityana on Tuesday.
He was popular with the music fans who loved his ability to make exhilarating sounds out of the guitar. His other songs were Safari, Ekikere Kiri Kumbata and Vincent.
Amigo was born in Kindu in the former Zaire but his father migrated to Uganda due to fighting in the area. Amigo was then nine years old and already a singer. They settled in Arua and he became the darling of this town. He performed with his musician father, Atib Iteitei at the White Rhino in Arua.
In the mid 1970s, he moved to Kampala and joined Kaumba Jazz Band. In 1976, he started up his own Tell Me Sorry Band. The band collapsed and he then formed Wawawa Jazz Band, which also followed his first one to the grave. He then moved to Afrigo Band, which he quit moments later to start up Afrigo Two Band that also bowed out. But Amigo was a performer who loved forming bands and nothing would stop him. In 1992, he came up with Waka Waka Band and his first assignment was the release of Oh Mama Wange.
In 1999, he quit Afrigo Band to start up Dembe Musica. His new band also gave way and he joined Simba Sounds among other bands.
On Belgium King Day in November last year, we had a chat about his music and life.
And the echoes of his guitar made the Belgian diplomats swing their bodies. His sweet vocals in songs such as Tambola na-Mokili by the late Jean Bokelo made it for me. Then he gave us Mado by the late Franco. It was such a wonderful evening.
He is survived by six children; two live in Switzerland while his wife Shamsa and children live in the family home in Nakulabye. Ends