Down the memory lane with Uganda’s Kadongo kamu greats

When you bring names like Matia Luyima, Matia Kakumirizi, Dan Mugula, Harriet Nabitaka, Deo Sebuguzi, Betty Nabulya, Harriet Sanyu, Lord Fred Ssebatta, Sauda Batenda, alias Nakakaawa, David Kizito, a.k.a Koloneeri and Willy Mukabya together then it is a musical walk back to the good old Kadongo Kamu days.This was the experience for the revellers that braved the cold to be part of the all-Kadongo Kamu music fete dubbed ‘Buganda ne Kadongo Kamu’, at Kyaddondo Rugby grounds over the weekend.The listed artistes are not the usual on the average music shows in town yet their names are familiar, not just to the young but their parents too. So if there is one thing that bridges generations, then it is these Kadongo Kamu artistes.Each song as artiste after another came on stage, took averagely 10 minutes as they shared messages through deep lyrics and emphatic verbal, melodic expression, dealing with subjects like love, politics, woman emancipation, history among other topics.From Matia Luyima’s Ssepiriya, there was evidence of good poetry and diction all fused well in 23 minutes, making it one of the longest and most dramatic local songs ever recorded. But the emotion was not lost as Ssebatta crowned it all with good and moving lyrics from some of his songs before he called on Ssebale whom he helped nurture. The two buried their hatchet on stage and performed a song together to ululations from the audience.This flavour of music, perhaps Uganda’s only unadulterated music genre is still on the rise and has this year seen some good productions like Bakoowu by Mathias Walukaga and Gundi Okuze, a cheeky one by Gerald Kiweewa. Mainstream artistes like Bobi Wine have borrowed greatly from Kadongo Kamu’s narrative style though their beats are more upbeat.

Leisure

Down the memory lane with Uganda’s Kadongo kamu greats