Uganda: Why Artistes Change Names

Uganda: Why Artistes Change Names

New Vision (Kampala)

15 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008

Vision Reporter
Kampala

IMAGINE you are at a concert and the emcee announces: "Coming up on stage are Moses Katumba, Joseph Gadiba, Semukutu, Besigye and Sentamu Kyagulanyi."

Would you have a problem with that? Apparently, the reason many artistes get stage names is because their birth names are not appealing.

"People get stage names because some birth names sound very 'local' and do not command popularity among modern audiences," Jenkins Mukasa, a reggae artiste, says.

Some people change names so as to conceal their family origins. But it is not logical because every artiste's origin can easily be traced.

Tool Man of the Kisumuluzo fame was born Moses Kibalama. He changed names because it was the trend and he sought a catchy name to help him make more money.

"Our real names are considered unattractive, dull or difficult to pronounce and spell. They have also been used by other notable individuals," he explains.

Some artistes like Iryn Namubiru pay great attention to skill and ability, giving little thought to a stage name.

Buchaman of Abakyala Timumatira fame was born Mark Bugembe. "Buchaman is my grandfather's name and since it was appealing, I decided to take it on to attract attention," he explains.

Artistes such as Kid Fox, Dizzy Nuts, Lizard and Master Blaster took on stage names to seek attention. But stage names are not befitting for all music genres. For example, hip-hop musicians usually get stage names unlike classical music artistes.

In Uganda, most kadongo kamu musicians maintain their birth names so that their fans can identify with them.

Many artistes refer to their stage name as their 'professional names'.

In some cases, singers adopt their stage names and use them even in courts of law. For instance, Bobi Wine and Jose Chameleone have used their stage names when recording statements at the Police and swearing oaths in court.

Most of the female artistes in Uganda have maintained their names, while others just shorten or use the first name, for instance Bella (Elizabeth Naiga) and Iryn (Irene Namubiru).

A few Ugandan male artistes have maintained their names, for instance Silver Kyagulanyi.