Controversy as Jubilee song artistes draw swords

By Nigel Nassar and George Wabweyo
YOGA Yoga Uganda, as you may already know, is the official jubilee song; a song you are going to hear quite often in the run up to our golden jubilee celebrations on October 9, when we turn 50 years as an independent nation.

As you listen to its mellow sound, the vibe is indeed congratulatory, making you appreciate its apt naming, as Yoga Yoga Uganda, is Luganda for Congratulations, Congratulations Uganda!

At its launch, which was held two weeks ago at the Uganda independence monument on Speke Road in Kampala, all present bobbed their heads to the tune and tapped their feet in triumphant acclamation.

In a nutshell, all agreed that the artistes behind it basically nailed it. Even chief guest Henry Banyenzaki, the minister of state for economic monitoring, could not hide his elation upon unveiling such a great work of genius.

Is it a wonder that whoever was present literally clamoured to get a copy of the song’s original CDs, handed out as complementary?

This was history unfolding in real time, so you would not fault anyone for scampering to take home a keepsake of that history.

And so, from then on, the country has sung along, as radio stations celebrate the song.

Others have gone on You tube and downloaded it to play at convenience. Not a soul has faulted it.

Its catchy tune, meticulous vocals, rousing lyrics and an identity that draws images of ‘Ugandanness’ in the listener, have made us even more proud to be Ugandan, as we eagerly await the day Britain’s Union Jack descended, and Uganda’s black, yellow and red flag raised on a Kololo airstrip fl agpole for the fi rst time.

NABAASA'S CONCERNS
But has it occurred to you that beneath all this beauty, serenity, patriotic gist of the song and our going gaga about it lurks discontentment, accusation, distrust and perhaps betrayal?

The aforementioned adjectives would never deserve to be mentioned in the same breath with Yoga Yoga. But, as you read this, discord is brewing amidst the geniuses who have captured the soul of this 50-year-old nation in song.

It turns out the beauty who penned Yoga Yoga, Tusker Project Fame Season Two winner Esther Nabaasa, is grumbling that veteran singer Richard Kawesa has ‘stolen’ all her shine, as the media have since the song’s launch passed it off as Kawesa’s, yet his role on the whole jubilee song project was to merge and manage the artistes involved and see to it that the song is publicised.

According to Nabaasa, she wrote the song, assisted by her husband Michael Mugisha, who also produced it. All the other artistes on the project, like Hum K, Barbara Kayaga and Richy, only came in to sing lines off what was a finished job, except for the rapper Ruyonga, the only other person with writing credits since he wrote his rap verse.

“Not that Kawesa is claiming writing credits to the song, no. In fact, he has not even openly said the song is his. He has just conveniently chosen to omit our roles in it, yet we should be the voices and faces behind it.

He has made sure to attend all media interviews alone, without any of us, is that fair?” Wonders Nabaasa, adding that creatively, Kawesa’s only claim to the jubilee song are the two words, Yoga Yoga, which are a part of the cameo background vocals you might even miss if you are not attentive.

“Kawesa is not even the song’s executive producer like he cleverly implies. My husband Michael Mugisha did all the production work,” adds Nabaasa, who of all the other stakeholders, happens to have the most to lose, which is why she has dared speak out as the others sit back and watch while Nabaasa represents them on the issue Kawesa says is being fuelled by media.

She says initially, after Kawesa had approached her with the deal, she had written and sung the whole song alone, another beautiful version of which we have heard.

“But since our independence is all about celebrating togetherness among other things, Kawesa and I decided we would add other artistes and distribute the verses amongst us.

Nothing about my original composition changed, apart from adding the rap. Clearly, the version with more artistes is better since the nation’s values are portrayed by many, and that I like.

But how dare someone conveniently omit us from our own work?”