Dislike Mr. Katala? Write your own
May 20, 2010
MR. Kataala is a song I did to thank my fans for supporting me through the years, but also inform my enemies that I am still around and going strong. However, it is also meant to condemn husbands who disrespect their wives and treat them like sluts.
Rendezvous with Bobi Wine
Singer Bobi Wine is a man of controversy. His new song Mr. Katala, with its outrageous lyrics, is the latest in his string of controversies. The song has already stirred mixed reactions. Joseph Ssemutooke sounded him out on this and other controversies.
Tell us about Mr. Katala which is generating a lot of controversy.
MR. Kataala is a song I did to thank my fans for supporting me through the years, but also inform my enemies that I am still around and going strong. However, it is also meant to condemn husbands who disrespect their wives and treat them like sluts.
There are allegations that the angry lyrics target your fellow singer, Bebe Cool.
I did not target anyone in particular. Like I have said, I did it for both my fans and enemies, with a special message to men who are disgracing their wives. If I spray cockroaches with doom and a human being drops with the cockroaches, it means that person was a cockroach posing as a human being.
So would Bebe Cool be wrong to take offence?<>/b>
(Laughs out loud). Is Bebe Cool a kataala? Well, if he fits my description of a kataala, I have no problem with him identifying with the song. Anyone is free to interpret my songs the way they please. That said, I do not have time to sing about Bebe Cool.
Is all well between you and Bebe Cool then?
I will be very honest with you. Bebe Cool used to be my friend. But when he sang Agenze, I was hurt. He was disgracing his woman, bringing their marital woes to the public. That inspired me to write Wesotinge, advising men to sort out their domestic disputes in privacy.
What happened next?
He used the message from the song to privately sort out his issues with his wife, but did not thank me. Other people heed the advice in songs and appreciate — some even come and tip me for it. Instead (after I even visited him in hospital when he was shot), Kasepiki (mind your business) in which he was dissing me, was the first song he released after being discharged. Remember my name is Ssentamu (ntamu is Luganda for saucepan. Kasepiki literally means ‘small’ saucepan). In essence he was being ungrateful; utilising my advice on the one hand and telling me, ‘It’s my life, mind your business’ on the other.
I have no problem with anyone in the industry. Chameleone is my friend, though not the best of friends. There are differences in ideology and values. The Goodlyfe boys are my friends. Even Bebe is my friend, only that he fears me a lot (laughs, in consort with his ‘boys’ Mad Tiger and Madoxx Sematimba). At least the last time I saw him (at Nsambya Hospital), we did not quarrel. That convinces me that he is my friend. (laughs sarcastically)
Back to Mr Katala. Some people say you sounded rather harsh and repulsive
My name is Bobi Wine. I do not pretend. When I am happy, you feel it in my music, in my tone. When I am angry, you can tell. I did this song to express my feelings to my fans and enemies, not to impress anybody. Whoever does not like it can go to hell. If you do not like it, do not listen to it. When it plays on radio or TV, switch off.
,b>And the swear words?
Those who have a problem with my choice of words can write their own songs. That was my way of letting off steam. In fact, the words in question are not sang in full. I leave it to the listeners’ imagination. Those who fill them out to sound vulgar are the ones with the problem.
Doesn’t that project a bad image of you?
What is “bad� Being true to myself? My ‘badness’ is simply being who I am. I am a bad man because in it I do not hurt anyone who is innocent.
But there are also reports that you publicly insulted Omulangira Ndausi, the MC at Grace Nakimera’s show for simply trying to ensure you performed within your allocated time.
I was on stage and he comes to me and says: “You have five minutes.†How? The MC is supposed to work for us the artistes, and for God’s sake, I am a big artiste who deserves to be respected. Nakimera was happy to have me at her show and Ndausi was trying to belittle me. I had to give him a piece of my mind. I am not a pretender. I do not take my anger backstage. I won’t be one Bobi backstage and another one on stage. I am not afraid to fight when there is cause to fight.
There is talk that your marriage is under threat from a UK-based woman, Safina, with whom you had a child?
Are you talking about my son Simon who lives in the UK? What’s wrong with him? He is my son. I am a typical African man. I have many children. My father, the mighty JW Ssentamu Bulaaya, had 42 children. It is normal to have a child with someone you are not married to. The trouble is that you people have been brainwashed by so-called western ideals. Supposing I want to have 10 children? I don’t want Barbie to break down. I want her to stay young and beautiful.
Rumour had it that Safina plans to introduce you to her parents. Is it true?
Is it possible she bore my child without her parents knowing who I was? Anyway, for the record, I have one wife. I am married to Barbie Itungo and I’m happy that way; the two of us alone in our own world with our very many children.
You have been said to harbour political ambitions. True or false?
I am not a politician. Politics is all about ‘politricks’. My calling is just to lead the ghetto people by giving them good music. I do not even need to be elected.
That Bobi Wine going into politics is another one, not me.
Singer Bobi Wine is a man of controversy. His new song Mr. Katala, with its outrageous lyrics, is the latest in his string of controversies. The song has already stirred mixed reactions. Joseph Ssemutooke sounded him out on this and other controversies.
Tell us about Mr. Katala which is generating a lot of controversy.
MR. Kataala is a song I did to thank my fans for supporting me through the years, but also inform my enemies that I am still around and going strong. However, it is also meant to condemn husbands who disrespect their wives and treat them like sluts.
There are allegations that the angry lyrics target your fellow singer, Bebe Cool.
I did not target anyone in particular. Like I have said, I did it for both my fans and enemies, with a special message to men who are disgracing their wives. If I spray cockroaches with doom and a human being drops with the cockroaches, it means that person was a cockroach posing as a human being.
So would Bebe Cool be wrong to take offence?<>/b>
(Laughs out loud). Is Bebe Cool a kataala? Well, if he fits my description of a kataala, I have no problem with him identifying with the song. Anyone is free to interpret my songs the way they please. That said, I do not have time to sing about Bebe Cool.
Is all well between you and Bebe Cool then?
I will be very honest with you. Bebe Cool used to be my friend. But when he sang Agenze, I was hurt. He was disgracing his woman, bringing their marital woes to the public. That inspired me to write Wesotinge, advising men to sort out their domestic disputes in privacy.
What happened next?
He used the message from the song to privately sort out his issues with his wife, but did not thank me. Other people heed the advice in songs and appreciate — some even come and tip me for it. Instead (after I even visited him in hospital when he was shot), Kasepiki (mind your business) in which he was dissing me, was the first song he released after being discharged. Remember my name is Ssentamu (ntamu is Luganda for saucepan. Kasepiki literally means ‘small’ saucepan). In essence he was being ungrateful; utilising my advice on the one hand and telling me, ‘It’s my life, mind your business’ on the other.
I have no problem with anyone in the industry. Chameleone is my friend, though not the best of friends. There are differences in ideology and values. The Goodlyfe boys are my friends. Even Bebe is my friend, only that he fears me a lot (laughs, in consort with his ‘boys’ Mad Tiger and Madoxx Sematimba). At least the last time I saw him (at Nsambya Hospital), we did not quarrel. That convinces me that he is my friend. (laughs sarcastically)
Back to Mr Katala. Some people say you sounded rather harsh and repulsive
My name is Bobi Wine. I do not pretend. When I am happy, you feel it in my music, in my tone. When I am angry, you can tell. I did this song to express my feelings to my fans and enemies, not to impress anybody. Whoever does not like it can go to hell. If you do not like it, do not listen to it. When it plays on radio or TV, switch off.
,b>And the swear words?
Those who have a problem with my choice of words can write their own songs. That was my way of letting off steam. In fact, the words in question are not sang in full. I leave it to the listeners’ imagination. Those who fill them out to sound vulgar are the ones with the problem.
Doesn’t that project a bad image of you?
What is “bad� Being true to myself? My ‘badness’ is simply being who I am. I am a bad man because in it I do not hurt anyone who is innocent.
But there are also reports that you publicly insulted Omulangira Ndausi, the MC at Grace Nakimera’s show for simply trying to ensure you performed within your allocated time.
I was on stage and he comes to me and says: “You have five minutes.†How? The MC is supposed to work for us the artistes, and for God’s sake, I am a big artiste who deserves to be respected. Nakimera was happy to have me at her show and Ndausi was trying to belittle me. I had to give him a piece of my mind. I am not a pretender. I do not take my anger backstage. I won’t be one Bobi backstage and another one on stage. I am not afraid to fight when there is cause to fight.
There is talk that your marriage is under threat from a UK-based woman, Safina, with whom you had a child?
Are you talking about my son Simon who lives in the UK? What’s wrong with him? He is my son. I am a typical African man. I have many children. My father, the mighty JW Ssentamu Bulaaya, had 42 children. It is normal to have a child with someone you are not married to. The trouble is that you people have been brainwashed by so-called western ideals. Supposing I want to have 10 children? I don’t want Barbie to break down. I want her to stay young and beautiful.
Rumour had it that Safina plans to introduce you to her parents. Is it true?
Is it possible she bore my child without her parents knowing who I was? Anyway, for the record, I have one wife. I am married to Barbie Itungo and I’m happy that way; the two of us alone in our own world with our very many children.
You have been said to harbour political ambitions. True or false?
I am not a politician. Politics is all about ‘politricks’. My calling is just to lead the ghetto people by giving them good music. I do not even need to be elected.
That Bobi Wine going into politics is another one, not me.