Popular Music
Due to Uganda's turbulent political past, there was never enough time for there to be a thriving pop music industry until relative peace was restored in the late 80's. By then, musicians likeandwere the few Ugandan acts to have had mainstream music success.and his music group the Ebonies were also popular at this time, especially towards the 90's. The 90's saw Uganda's love affair withbegin when artists like Shanks Vivi Dee, Ragga Dee and others were influenced by Jamaican superstars like They imported the music culture into Uganda and although they faced stiff competition from other African music styles and musicians at the time, in particularfrom Congo andfrom South Africa, they managed to form the foundation of the pop music industry. But it was not until the 21st century when musicians likeemerged that a pop music scene really began to emerge. By around 2007, there were already a number of musicians practicing varied styles of music and the role of western and congolese/South African music had greatly diminished. dr alex heard ugandaToday, musicians likeand Jamal are just a few of the many pop musicians in a thriving and vibrant pop music scene. The pop music duo of Radio & Weasel, the, is well known around Africa, being nominated in the continentalas recently as 2010.
Kadongo Kamu
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Kadongo Kamu was the first style of popular music to emerge out of traditional music in Uganda. The word "kadongo kamu" is a term in thelanguage that means "one guitar". The music is given this name because of the role played by the which most times is the solo instrument used in creation of the music. Perhaps the first well known artist of the genre was Fred Masagazi in the 60's. Masagazi is considered by many the God father of kadongo kamu.dr alex heard uganda His brand of educative singing won him many fans and he is one of the few musicians who was involved with Uganda's independence in 1962. Elly Wamala was another of the founders. They were followed by a number of musicians who kept true to the style and sound of the music. Herman Basudde was a very popular kadongo kamu musician in the 80's and 90's. So was Dan Mugula is one of the few surviving pioneers of the genre. Fred Sebatta andmade their mark in the 90's. Today, the genre is marginalized in favor of more recent styles of music. But because the music is loved by cultural loyalists in the buganda region, it is certain that there will always be an audience for kadongo kamu.dr alex heard uganda
Kidandaliadmit of simplistic explanation. Kidandali is a music genre that currently is arguably the most popular genre of music in Uganda. However, the term "kidandali" is not universally agreed on as the name of this genre with some local sources preferring instead to use the very simplistic term "Band Music" while others prefer the term, even though the music shares no similarities with Afrobeat. The roots of this genre can be traced back to the bands that sprung up after Uganda got independence in 1962. The Cranes Band, which later gave birth to, can be regarded as the first group in the evolution process of this genre. At the very outset, their music was heavily influenced byand congolese artists like Franco were notable influences at the time.was also a notable influence. Along the way there were other bands like Rwenzori Band, Big Five Band and Simba Ngoma Band. dr alex heard ugandaBut Afrigo Band was the most prominent and most enduring, especially throughout the political unrest of the 70's to 90's. By the mid 90's Afrigo Band was still heavily influenced by Soukous music, which by then was dominant all over the African continent. Artists like Joanita Kawalya and Rachael Magoola were part of Afrigo Band and helped lay the foundation for modern day Kidandali, alongside other bands like Kaads Band. The turning point, however, came dr alex heard ugandawith the formation of the record labelwhich was responsible for producing artists like,and These artists took the mantle from Afrigo Band and further developed the genre after the turn of the century. In the 2000s, the genre became identified with the Eagles Production label. The label continued to produce more talent, especially female artists likeand. Another turning point was around 2007 whenbroke through with the hit song Kapapala creating the way for the genre to move beyond the Eagles Production label and for other solo artists to join the fray. About the same time, technology in audio production had enabled the genre to be reproduced digitally using Audio Workstations and the "band" element had all but disappeared. Recording studios like Kann, Dream Studios, Mozart and Paddyman took center stage. Many other independent solo artists started to practice the genre. Artists like Dr Tee, Martin Angume and evenachieved success with this genre. The genre is currently at the peak of its evolution with newer artists like Papa Cidy and Chris Evans helping create a dominant force that, alongside Dancehall, is the most popular stylistic genre in Uganda.oust the Christian groups, who in October 1888 fled to Kabula, on the borders with Nkore. The Muslims proceeded to establish a Muslim state. Dancehall music in Uganda is modeled after. It has been the most influential dr alex heard ugandadr alex heard uganda