Uganda: The Music Revelations of 2006

 

Uganda: The Music Revelations of 2006

The Monitor (Kampala)

COLUMN
December 29, 2006
Posted to the web December 28, 2006

Edgar R. Batte

The year 2006 witnessed a crop of up-and-coming artistes who never failed to impress with their music. Most of them even went ahead to steal awards at the noses of already established artistes

Lady Mariam 'Tindatine'

Her name is nothing much for the usual fan. They just love to dance to her hit, Tindatine. Lady Mariam Namukasa, the artiste behind the song we all love to dance to, broke out successfully early this year from the hills of Bushenyi.

She was visibly flattered at the success she received. In an interview earlier this year, she confessed that it was because of her overnight success that she managed to make her first visit to Kampala.

One of those things you probably liked about the song was its video that portrays the nurturing of a selfless love in a rural setting.

Well, she has had her pluses, being young, pretty and talented. If truth be told, Tindatine has won rave reviews and has become an anthem of sorts in several places.

Lady Mariam made her debut in local showbiz as a dancer with Romax Band, which hosted among others the talent pool of the likes of 2005 Western artiste of the year, Sister Charity and Rasta Charles. When the band split in 2003, she became jobless so she used some of her savings to set up a salon.

Well, you might wonder how a one Namukasa gets to rock in Bushenyi. She reveals that Namukasa is a name she adopted from her grand mother who raised her. Some of her other songs include Obusinge Omukama (Peace in the home), Rukundo (passionately in love), Tashemerera (A happy person), Nze wuwo (I'm all yours), and Katwehemu (Having a party).

Grace, Gatimo & Paragon

Nkola mu Banka... Ani Akumanyi...goes the lines in Ani Akumanyi, Grace, Gatimo and Paragon's claim to fame. The song has received enormous airplay and we are still listening on.

The trio, a success story from the karaoke sessions at Alleygators portrays the brand of city players who paint rosy profiles about themselves to lure innocent souls (as in females).

Their profile is musicians was also propelled further by their duo nomination in the Pearl of Africa Music (Pam) awards this year. However, the trio seems a little laid back and hasn't done enough public performance to market themselves.

This is attributed to the fact that Grace got pregnant along the way. 2007 wouldn't be a bad year for them either, if they took it head on.

Phina Mugerwa 'Masanyalaze'

A number of people would like to argue that she's more popular as a dancer than she is as an artiste. For this she's earned herself the nickname "Uganda's Shakira" owing to her stirring stage waste gyrations that are similar to those of Colombian star Shakira.

It earned her the fame and the Pearl of Africa Music (Pam) award for the New artiste of the year category. Of late, she's jumped onto the Calypso dance mania. Phina has used all this to promote her music. She is the voice behind the Masanyalaze song, which introduced her on the local music scene.

Bosmic 'Lucky' Otim

Without mincing words, this is one guy who has taken over the Northern connection by storm. Bosmic (pictured) put up a good performance at the Luo Night at Steak Out bar and fans seemed to yearn for more even as he left the stage.

Following the Luo Night gig, the rumour mill had it that the 24-year old self-professed Rasta was heading to the U.K on invitation for performances alongside Pam award winner, DJ Languna.

And in Gulu, he is a darling of the crowd and his music blazes on all the streets, bars and even on the bus on your way back to Kampala. He has sang songs about the need for the return of peace to Northern Uganda and his fame rides on tracks like Gangkor, Lok Ming Ming andMuzei wa Kaazi which he sang for the President for his campaigns.

Priscilla Kalibala & Bella

Priscilla Kalibala's Mwana Gwe has received enormous airplay on the airwaves and it was not surprising that the artiste who released her first song Gumukiiriza last year now has got herself commendable fan base.

Mid this year, she launched her first album, alongside her musical partner Bella. Priscilla like the case was when Janet Jackson's breast accidentally popped out and was broadcast to a live audience during the Super Bowl event a couple of years ago, Kalibala also had a wardrobe malfunction of sorts as parts of breasts were visible to the audience during her album launch -as if a bare midriff and micro mini skirt were not enough.

She has also recorded several music videos and we expect more from her.

Lethal

The first time you probably watched him was in the Hip-Hop All Stars' Mama Africa video. You might not know it, but he is the lad who raps in Uganda Waragi's Get Your Mix On radio advert. Joseph Bagaire a.k.a Lethal (pictured) is simply the new kid climbing up the hip-hop ladder and to sample what he can offer, the young rapper has performed at Club Rouge's second anniversary, Steak Out's fifth anniversary and the recent Hip-Hop Canvass at Angenoir.

He is also a joint winner of a Pam Award with the Hip-Hop All Stars, before going solo.

This year, he has managed to put five songs together as he compiles his forthcoming album. His lead single Watoto Wa Africa, is a remix of his Late Brother Jimmy Bagaire (MC Afric's) and it is also a tribute to his fallen brother who was the first hip-hop artiste in the country. His music is loved by young people and he says this is just beginning.