Artistes Live Up to Music Day Billing

The Observer (Kampala)

Simon Musasizi

22 June 2011

Nothing would have set the mood for the celebration of the World Music Day better than a small downpour, which washed away the harsh environment, ushering in a calm Saturday evening.

A simple stage with Xenson artistic works on the background banner had been set at Alliance française green lawn in Nakasero. It was time to reflect on the 30 years since the world acknowledged the importance of music and celebrating it.

By 5pm, activity on stage had already started. There was the Special Forces Band headed by talented lead guitarist, Bukko Brite, and little known Henry Opio was on stage in an impressive performance. International award winner Maurice Kirya lived up to his billing. His short appearance was worth every moment.

He did mainly the choruses, but his style on the guitar and vocal class continued to seal his prints on the music scene. Misubbawa had patrons pulling out their phones to record the performance. Capital FM’s Flavia Tumusiime, the emcee of the night, summed up his performance as “orgasmic”.

Just when we thought Kirya was the climax, little known Jungle The Man-Eater fitted in Kirya’s shoes albeit with something different. When you listen to this guy, you soon forget about the funny name and appreciate his talent. Have you heard of something called organic hip hop? Jungle makes you fall in love with hip hop again.

Backed by Percussion Discussion Africa, Jungle’s rap in Lusoga (Lusoflow) is a magazine of traditional instruments such as the talking drum, long drum and Adungu. He did two songs; Obwire Bukyere and Kakopi Kakopi, a Kisoga folksong, before leaving the stage for Percussion Discussion Africa. They handed revellers saucepans, kettles and broken plastics and instructed them to produce sound.

You should have been there; revellers walked around banging anything in their vicinity. Afrigo Band’s Rachel Magoola was another highlight of the night. Backed by the Special Forces Band, she left no reveller down with her Obangaina and Inaiffe.

Susan Kerunen and Sarah Tamba with Soul Beat Africa made love to our ears but it was late in the night (close to midnight) as the band rushed to crown the night. The other artistes included Joel Sebunjo with his Sundiata band, Tshilla, Aziz Azion, Miss Nutty and the Majestics Band, Jonathan Sebunya and Karim Saava.

AllAfrica – All the Time