Why Kenyan music dominates
Apr 11, 2003
SINCE the late 1990’s, the Ugandan music scene has seen a great transformation, with music tastes tending towards the more vibrant contemporary artists like Ragga D, Chameleon and Bebe Cool. But young artists — whose creative blend of traditional pop and western elements was initially confined t
By Roger Mugisha
SINCE the late 1990’s, the Ugandan music scene has seen a great transformation, with music tastes tending towards the more vibrant contemporary artists like Ragga D, Chameleon and Bebe Cool.
Ugandans hitherto paid a lot of attention to Congolese artists like Koffi Olomide and Kanda Bongoman. But young artists — whose creative blend of traditional pop and western elements was initially confined to dance floor — has slowly made its way into the mainstream with the help of radio.
The natural consequence of this has been such a mammoth with songs like Mama Mia by Jose Chameleon, Kagoma by Bobi Wine and Mambo Mingi by Bebe Cool.
However, amidst the new craze for contemporary youthful sounds, Kenyan music has clearly taken the lead in the race to captivate music fans.
The Ogopa Djs, who are actually a production house, have set the Ugandan music scene ablaze. Songs like Julie and Wanipa Raha by Red San, Wasse wa Githurai, Telemuka by Mr. Googz and Vini Banton, Ninanoki by Nameless and Tahidi by Amani are major chart toppers.
But the influence of Kenyan music on the Ugandans is not restricted to direct entries by their artists. They played a big role in the rise of some of the best prolific Ugandan artists — Bebe Cool and Chameleon — who we initially thought were Kenyans. Bebe Cool and Chameleon went to Kenya to acquire that Midas touch before their songs were released here. A song like Okunsunasuna by Sylivia Kyansuti and Bebe Cool had to cross over before getting major airplay in Uganda.
Tedd Josiah produced much of Kawesa’s debut album Yerere in Kenya. Kawesa also performed alongside contemporary Kenyan artists such as Group Hart and Kalamashaka.
But industry observers say the influence of Kenyan music on the Ugandan scene is not a new thing. Hope Mukasa, a veteran artist, says that as far back as the early 70s, Kenyan artists were already making waves in Uganda through the group Les Wanyika, their hit single Sina Makosa receiving much acclaim.
“The song (Sina Makosa) which was later redone by the late Cool James Dandu, was a constant lyrical phenomenon over Radio Uganda,†he added.
In Afro-hip-hop and soul, the likes of Jimmy Gathau, King Kong (the ladies man) and Hart amongst others had graced the stage as well.†They had a huge tour in Uganda with Shanks Vivie D in 1993.
The later, Hart became a Gospel group in the early 90s, was made up of Pete Odera, Tedd Josiah, Sali Oyugi and Esther Mulindi.
Tedd Josiah, who later became the most sought after producer and currently owns Zebra Productions in Kenya, was the brain behind budding artists like Kaweesa’s Semusajja and Gidi Gidi Maji Maji’s Unbwogable.
Pete Odera went to the US to pursue a solo-career, but still sings Gospel songs, while Sali Oyugi and Esther Mulindi continued performing in Nairobi.
Other artists who also made their fame in Uganda included Eric Wanaina (Kora Award winner) and Mercy Myra.
Hope Mukasa attributes the success of Kenyan music in Uganda to the interests of the younger generation: “The kids of today like the mixture of sheng (Kenyan slang) and local languages in musicâ€.
Bebe cool says that the demand for Kenyan music by Ugandans is due to “the versatile and posh lyrics.â€
“The lyrics produced are very captivating to the listen to and they have a stimulating flair that makes them easier to dance to,†he said.
When asked why he is constantly going back to Kenya to have his songs produced Cool said, “Kenyan producers (Ogopa) are of international quality because every song is sent to several places, including India, for research before it is released on the air waves.â€
“It comes as no surprise that their songs receive major airplay in Uganda,†Cool added.
Victor Insingoma, who has a penchant for Kenyan music, attributes the Ugandans craze to the sophisticated rhythms of Kenyan music.
“Kenyan songs, especially those by the Ogopa DJs, are very easy to sing to. They have deluxe tunes,†he said.
Musical veteran and Afrigo band strong-man Moses Matovu thinks that it’s entirely an element of good timing and immense publicity: “Music, like everything else, has timing and this happens to be the time for the Kenyan siege,†he said.
But, Bebe Cool says,†local Ugandan artists still have what it takes to make good competitive music.â€
Additional reporting by Sebidde Kiryowa
SINCE the late 1990’s, the Ugandan music scene has seen a great transformation, with music tastes tending towards the more vibrant contemporary artists like Ragga D, Chameleon and Bebe Cool.
Ugandans hitherto paid a lot of attention to Congolese artists like Koffi Olomide and Kanda Bongoman. But young artists — whose creative blend of traditional pop and western elements was initially confined to dance floor — has slowly made its way into the mainstream with the help of radio.
The natural consequence of this has been such a mammoth with songs like Mama Mia by Jose Chameleon, Kagoma by Bobi Wine and Mambo Mingi by Bebe Cool.
However, amidst the new craze for contemporary youthful sounds, Kenyan music has clearly taken the lead in the race to captivate music fans.
The Ogopa Djs, who are actually a production house, have set the Ugandan music scene ablaze. Songs like Julie and Wanipa Raha by Red San, Wasse wa Githurai, Telemuka by Mr. Googz and Vini Banton, Ninanoki by Nameless and Tahidi by Amani are major chart toppers.
But the influence of Kenyan music on the Ugandans is not restricted to direct entries by their artists. They played a big role in the rise of some of the best prolific Ugandan artists — Bebe Cool and Chameleon — who we initially thought were Kenyans. Bebe Cool and Chameleon went to Kenya to acquire that Midas touch before their songs were released here. A song like Okunsunasuna by Sylivia Kyansuti and Bebe Cool had to cross over before getting major airplay in Uganda.
Tedd Josiah produced much of Kawesa’s debut album Yerere in Kenya. Kawesa also performed alongside contemporary Kenyan artists such as Group Hart and Kalamashaka.
But industry observers say the influence of Kenyan music on the Ugandan scene is not a new thing. Hope Mukasa, a veteran artist, says that as far back as the early 70s, Kenyan artists were already making waves in Uganda through the group Les Wanyika, their hit single Sina Makosa receiving much acclaim.
“The song (Sina Makosa) which was later redone by the late Cool James Dandu, was a constant lyrical phenomenon over Radio Uganda,†he added.
In Afro-hip-hop and soul, the likes of Jimmy Gathau, King Kong (the ladies man) and Hart amongst others had graced the stage as well.†They had a huge tour in Uganda with Shanks Vivie D in 1993.
The later, Hart became a Gospel group in the early 90s, was made up of Pete Odera, Tedd Josiah, Sali Oyugi and Esther Mulindi.
Tedd Josiah, who later became the most sought after producer and currently owns Zebra Productions in Kenya, was the brain behind budding artists like Kaweesa’s Semusajja and Gidi Gidi Maji Maji’s Unbwogable.
Pete Odera went to the US to pursue a solo-career, but still sings Gospel songs, while Sali Oyugi and Esther Mulindi continued performing in Nairobi.
Other artists who also made their fame in Uganda included Eric Wanaina (Kora Award winner) and Mercy Myra.
Hope Mukasa attributes the success of Kenyan music in Uganda to the interests of the younger generation: “The kids of today like the mixture of sheng (Kenyan slang) and local languages in musicâ€.
Bebe cool says that the demand for Kenyan music by Ugandans is due to “the versatile and posh lyrics.â€
“The lyrics produced are very captivating to the listen to and they have a stimulating flair that makes them easier to dance to,†he said.
When asked why he is constantly going back to Kenya to have his songs produced Cool said, “Kenyan producers (Ogopa) are of international quality because every song is sent to several places, including India, for research before it is released on the air waves.â€
“It comes as no surprise that their songs receive major airplay in Uganda,†Cool added.
Victor Insingoma, who has a penchant for Kenyan music, attributes the Ugandans craze to the sophisticated rhythms of Kenyan music.
“Kenyan songs, especially those by the Ogopa DJs, are very easy to sing to. They have deluxe tunes,†he said.
Musical veteran and Afrigo band strong-man Moses Matovu thinks that it’s entirely an element of good timing and immense publicity: “Music, like everything else, has timing and this happens to be the time for the Kenyan siege,†he said.
But, Bebe Cool says,†local Ugandan artists still have what it takes to make good competitive music.â€
Additional reporting by Sebidde Kiryowa