Uganda: Riding on New Found Fame

 

Uganda: Riding on New Found Fame

Four years ago, Mark Paul Ikwap left a church choir and started singing secular music where his blend of melodic funky ragga, often underlined with social comment, has brought him fame.

Uganda: Riding on New Found Fame

The Monitor (Kampala)

November 29, 2006
Posted to the web November 29, 2006

Rafsanjan A. Tatya

Four years ago, Mark Paul Ikwap left a church choir and started singing secular music where his blend of melodic funky ragga, often underlined with social comment, brought him fame in his home town, Soroti.

But the ultimate recognition was when he took the 2006/2007 Eastern artiste accolade in the recent Pam awards. On receiving his award, the artiste said that Jesus helped him win.

"All of my competitors are bigger and more popular than me," he said, evidently glad to be a winner. However, the 24-year-old desires more. His goal is to become Uganda's top artiste.

Mark P who was the first Iteso artiste to sing contemporary music has already released a new eight-track album titled Ngun that will be available in stores soon.

In Ngun, the lead song, a man seeks assurance from his wife that they will be married until death does them apart and so he asks that she tells off her admirers. Meanwhile, a local music promotion company, Look Media has organised a month-long music tour for Mark P to thank his fans for the success at the Pam awards.

He will perform in Soroti, Mbale, Malaba, Jinja, Iganga, Kumi and Kapchorwa. The tour kicks off on December 8 with a show at Soflyv Hotel in Soroti where the Soroti Municipality Member of Parliament, Mr William Ekemu is expected as the chief guest.

Mark P started out in the 1990s in Soroti Baptist Church Choir until 2002 when he ventured into secular music. Today, his award-winning song Araidah is ruling the airwaves in Eastern Uganda. The song advises men to stick to their wives for their good behaviour and not their looks