Musician Mayinja correct to address Museveni on Bizzeemu

Sep 24, 2019

So when Mayinja got his turn to perform at Kusasira’s show, it was a divine opportunity to introduce himself to the Mzee

OPINION

By Robert Atuhairwe

Over the weekend, President Yoweri Museveni graced a well attended musical show of songstress, Catherine Kusasira. It was a high moment for the arts seeing the country's topmost executive sharing the same air with Bazzukulu for the love of the arts and freedom.

Bebe Cool and King Michael were among artistes present to support a sister in the trade. All three are ardent Museveni supporters and they are open about it. 

But Kusasira belongs to Golden Band and among her curtain-raisers was Ronald Mayinja (member of the same band) who nearly took the whole show to another direction. Mayinja's "political" colours are as yet not very clear. He has been seen at several events involving the NRM (like the Kiboga event of last year) but lately hobnobs with the opposition, more so, MP Robert Kyagulanyi's (Bobi Wine's) "people power".

He has made his household name in music, being a pioneer who came before the likes of Jose Chameleone, Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool. They have all become stars and noticeable figures, with each of them now trying to break out of the old shell into new fields (leadership) and activism is the route they are charting.

That is how Mayinja came up to sing Bizzeemu (They are recurring) last year even though he previously issued equally quizzical songs such as Tuli kubunkenke (We are on tension) and Africa, but these were less brazen (or political) than Bizzeemu with its near revolutionary angulations, although cleverly crafted as a "petition" rather than radical criticism. It is a cry and appeal for Uganda not to revert to the old tribulations of the regimes of that time. The kidnappings, repressions and more!

Listening to the song, the appeal is actually directed to President Museveni. The lyrics in part go like this: "Naye nga bizzeemu, ebyamulwanya bizzeemu, Mzee mumugambe, nti ebintu bizzeemu" translated in English as "But the events have recurred, What he fought against has recurred, Tell the old man, That the events have recurred."

Elsewhere in the refrain, he says: Ab'eyo mumugambe, Nti ebintu bizzeemu" translated as "People next to him tell him, That the events have recurred." He mentions specifics names of (Ruth) Nankabirwa and Tamale Mirundi to tell the big man that old problems are cropping up again.

So when Mayinja got his turn to perform at Kusasira's show, it was a divine opportunity to introduce himself to the Mzee. It was a chance to deliver the message to the man who has the power to do something about goings-on in the country.

It was both a mark of deep concern on what he was singing about and confidence in Museveni to do something about the problems enumerated. Many "critics" of Museveni tend to melt and cannot express themselves when they meet him face to face.

The President also got another opportunity to explain and clarify these things, moreover before an audience that may not easily be found listening to the State Of The Nation Address (S.O.N.A) or attending other such formal occasions where he normally explains these issues. To some, the whole thing may even seem like it was staged!

As someone cultivating and deepening his affinity with Bazzukulu, it was an opportunity to give his side of the story to those who might have been hearing the pointed lyrics without hearing from Mzee in the kind of forum they prefer. May be Mzee himself had never heard the song before!

So Mayinja was communicating with the president but also creating space for the "old man" to bear himself out.

The musician was also building political clout, recalling that he wants to contest as a parliamentarian in 2021. But in the dark past which he fears so much, he would not have had chance to perform such an act before the head-of-state and if he did, shortly after he would have been carted off, never to be seen again.

Instead, Museveni honoured him with a response and I would suggest that since he (Museveni) is an artiste in his own right, he should do one responding to Mayinja's fears-while continuing with the practical job of launching a refresher fundamental liberation.

The writer is a member of the Commonwealth Writers Group

Email: atuhairwe_robert@yahoo.com

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