Santana discarded his law degree to sing about woes in our society

trueVision Group in association with Twaweza Initiative and Buzz Events are seeking to recognise artistes whose compositions advance society. Today, Elvis Basudde brings you Gitta, an upcoming musician singing about accountability

I had never heard of Gitta Allan Keith aka Santana Karma, leave alone his song for which he was nominated, until my editor asked me to trace him for an interview. A few people I asked, including musicians, did not know this lawyer–turned musician either.

The fact that Gitta was nominated and yet he is little known in the music circles, with his songs not enjoying much airplay, clearly shows that his work of only two years has a positive impact on some listeners. I curiously grabbed a CD of his music and after listening to his blend of hip hop, rap, with a little dance hall, I nodded in appreciation – the lyrics are loaded with a positive message.

No wonder he was nominated for this recognition. He was nominated for Nembyerabira, his maiden song released in 2011. Nembyerabira literally means forgetting. The singer clearly stresses that society today forgets easily. Gitta took the creative art of making Nembyerabira a good song so that people can appreciate certain things that they tend to forget.

The song focuses on certain things we take for granted with some which are obvious to our politicians and leaders. For example, in the song, Gitta sings that: “The MPs we elected have forgotten us; some have never gone back to their constituencies since they were voted; only waiting to go back for re-election.”

The song further highlights how people have forgotten their traditions and cultures, how the young people do not know their norms and do not care and some people have forgotten that there is HIV/AIDS.

Despite the numerous campaigns about HIV/ AIDS, people are not paying attention! They forget to have sex with protection (babyerabira!)” The song makes you realise that some people in certain areas have been sidelined and are living in poor conditions in his area, roads are dusty and there is no electricity, yet there is an entire ministry responsible for these essential utilities.

Gitta explains that when he was making the song, he had to look at the audiences. The chorus is a bit flirtatious and the singer mainly sings about the youth. Inspiration Gitta says he is inspired by personal experience and the experiences of the people around him. Today he has only four songs on his album, but in every song, he always talks about the state of affairs of the environment he is living in.

Levy Lwanga, also known as LOB, the director of Urban Arkcent Studio, Gitta’s producer, says they conjured the message in a comical way and they achieved precisely what they wanted. “People love the song and it has been on count-downs of many FM radios,” he says.

The main essence of the song is, first of all, is to sensitize the public. When you listen to the first and second verses you will surely be educated and sensitized. The entertainment bit comes up in the last verse. Other songs In his song Ekyana Kiri Beautiful (the girl is beautiful), Gitta tries to use his art to promote and export our Ugandan accent in other countries just like Nigerians and Jamaicans have exported theirs here.

He did Ekyana in Kinyankore accent, the reason many mistake him to be from Ankole. “I was driven to do that song because Uganda’s music industry has been affected by Nigerians and Jamaicans. Everyone wants to sound like a Nigerian or Jamaican. I wanted to export our Ugandan accent to other countries as Nigerians export their accent here,” he says. Gitta’s Byagezako (everything is for trying), is another song that is slowly but surely catching people’s attention

He stresses that you have to try and fail, but never to fail to try. Power of music Gitta says music is a form of education. Some music is done to convey a message. If you listen to Lucky Dube, he preached about colour that though in South Africa there are people of different skin colour, they are still people (different colour, one people). The song was done in reference to South Africa’s apartheid. Bob Marley’s Pilates, talks about slave trade.. The song was done in reference to South Africa’s apartheid.

Bob Marley’s Pirates talks about slave trade. “If you listen to Tupac Shakur, one of the pioneers of hip hop, and my great inspiration, he used to sing about his life in the projects and how black people were mistreated then. He sang about things that affected him and the black people in his community. So music is a vessel that transforms life,” he says. Who is Gitta Gitta is the first born in a family of two children.

Born in Kampala in April 1986 to Edward Kasirye and Harriet Nankabirwa, the Buikwe district chairperson, Gitta grew up with his mother. He went to Namilyango Junior Boys’ School, Uganda Martyrs Namugongo for his secondary education before proceeding to Makerere University where he graduated three years ago with a degree in law. He started his music career in 2011, a year after his graduation. His maiden album, Nembyerabira was released in 2011. On top of music, Gitta, draws up contracts and registers companies. He is still single.

Challenges He says there are challenges in the music industry, especially when one is starting out. His first challenge was convincing his mother that he wanted to do music instead of law. His passion did not meet his mother’s approval at first. Another challenge was convincing everyone that although he had done law, a dream for many students, he was putting it aside to concentrate on music.

It was disturbing for everyone and actually many thought he was crazy. He also says having shifted drastically from the legal profession to a music career that doesn’t have strict rules and regulations, he encounters many challenges like fake promoters and lack of standardisation because the copyright law is not strong enough. “Because the industry is not regulated, someone can easily copy your music.

Sometimes you are contracted for a show, but after performing, you are not paid because there is no money,” Gitta adds. He also says it is very difficult for any upcoming musician to get radio or television airplay and also get people to listen to your music since people always want to listen to people they are used to.

what they say about Gitta 

Sam Rykieh, a student at Kampala International University

Gitta’s Nembyerabira sounds a warning to people, who just talk but don’t walk the talk. It encourages us to not forget what we are taught. Gitta is a promising upcoming singer. I wish he could also produce a video for his music.

Wilson Sande, Ndejje University

I don’t want to tell a lie that I am a big fan of Santana. However, a friend of mine brought a CD of his music, and after listening to it, I came to appreciate it; he is really good. I particularly like Byagezako because it inspires you to always look out for better opportunities.

Dorcas Omoding, a programme manager

Santana’s song Nembyerabira instils discipline in people, that are not principled. Being principled is a virtue, but most people lack this. It is a powerful song that will change you after listening to it.

Godfrey Nyanzi, a businessman

Be consistent. That is what I learn from Santana’s Nembyerabira song. He is a new kid on the music scene, but if he continues at that pace, the sky is the limit for him. I have also heard his Ebbanja and Oyogera Bubi; they are masterpieces.

To Nominate

Write to features@newvision.co.ug You can also nominate via SMS type MUSIC (leave space) name of artiste (space) song and send to 8338. Alternatively, write to the Features Editor, P.O. Box 9815, Kampala or drop your nominations at any of the Vision Group bureau offices countrywide. Nominations close on January 15, 2014

To qualify for nomination, the musician should meet the following requirements;
❑ Be Ugandan
❑ The composition must be original and not pirated
❑ Have innovatively used their musical composition to convey deliberate messages advocating for positive change
❑ Have used their music to mobilise the masses to demand for accountability or for a community cause.
❑ Used their music to highlight societal ills like corruption, poor governance, poor service delivery, oppression and human rights abuses.