In Uganda, music is consumed in many ways; caller tunes and streaming, yet, even when all these are revenues for making money, it is through performances that artistes fetch much of their earnings.
In a bid to entertain its loyal fans, Club Beer organized an online concert called Club Beatz online concert featuring Irene Ntale, Ykee Benda, A Pass and hosted by Martha Kay and the show was broadcasted live on the Club Pilsener Facebook page and YouTube channel commenced at 8:00 PM that took place last night.
What drives live music?
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Different members online say Ugandans have been embracing live music for a long time though it was all an organic process.
We have had bands like Afrigo Band one of the bands that have been doing live. But now e have musicians like Cindy, Rema, Bebe Cool, Winnie Nwagi, Irene Ntale among others who have embraced this so well.
Last night during the Club Beats Online Concert, Irene Ntale proved she is the queen when it comes to live music. The singer had her guitar? From the start, Irene Ntale’s voice had viewers floating in their feelings from the comfort of their couches at home.
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Today, almost all places that provide live music experiences almost have their own equipment, which makes it easier to only hire singers and players.
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However, notes that even the improving technology has made things swift, noting that earlier, and international artistes would demand sound kits from Nairobi and South Africa.
“Today, there are a whole bunch of service providers that are doing a good job and affordable. For example, with YouTube and Sound Cloud, bands or individual artistes have a lot of access to audiences.
During the online show put up by Club to give the fans an online experience since we are all practicing social distancing in order to avoid the spread of the deadly Coronavirus amongst the people. The show was very welcomed by different people online. Thought the only problem many had was the internet which overtime was on favoring most of them. It was on and off.
“There was a time when people depended on the radio to learn about new music, they followed what the radio predicted. Today, the audience has options, they get to hear better music that is not on the radio, become fans of such artistes, and start following their performances,” he says.
The popularity of live music has over time inspired seasonal shows such as A Ka Dope, Live at Fezah, and outside bars, bigger shows such as Blankets and Wine, Roast and Rhyme, Qwela Junction or Ballroom parties have started making them fixtures on their lineups.
Today, it is even more surprising seeing someone take to social media to seek recommendations to places where there is a live band performing.
For years, people have watched artistes perform with a CD playback and they celebrated them,” he says, noting that artistes such as Bebe Cool, Chameleone, or Bobi Wine used to put up spirited performances that were captivating.
He, however, notes that as the years went by, the industry started getting artistes without a wow factor.
Away from that, the most interesting part of the online show was when Ykee Benda came to perform and he is introduction was about Martha Kay leaving many with questions. Ykee Benda confessed his feelings to Martha Kay saying she leaves him with nothing praying to have her as his lady. he also dedicated the song Crush to Martha Kay.
A few years ago, not many of us knew the younger sibling to Ugandan RnB music ballad Michael Ross. And just two years back, Allan ’Kutos’ Katongole was merely living in his brother’s shadow, one audition in now famous TV series Sanyu has changed his life for the better.
For this, he won the best actor at the recently concluded Uganda Film Festival, but to get there, he has had to go through many career switches. He shares how he has managed to prevail with Flavia Tumusiime on Episode three of Home of our Stars.
Formerly a gospel musician, Allan started out his career as a back-up dancer for then famous brother Michael Ross at his performances. He attributes his foundation in music to his brother who encouraged him to embrace music and even wrote him a song.
“Michael really prompted me into music, I used to watch him sing and dance all the time when I was little, he gave me the opportunity to dance for him once, and while I was on stage, the crowd liked me, I was asked to come back, I never looked back. I went on to sing and dance in church where my music career was nurtured” Katongole reminisces.
“Church inspired me so much that when I decided to do music professionally, it felt more reasonable to sing gospel music. I started off with dancing and singing in church, we did like four songs and you know with church, the money flow is not enticing, so when all my group mates moved on, I moved on and got a corporate job.”
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The corporate world did not hold much appeal for him and a friend recommended him to audition for a few acting roles. On his professional Music career, Allan says he started with small roles in films such as 27 guns and a small appearance in TV series; Second Chance. It was after this that he auditioned for a role as Oscar, the second lead role in Sanyu.
Allan says it was a whole new experience seeing as he was fresh and new to doing series. “I was so intimidated on my first say on the set of Sanyu. Being on the same show with big names such as Abbey Mukiibi overwhelmed me, but these people saw something in me and I was called back for rehearsals. Their energy was easy to feed on” Katongole states.
Based on his appearance in Sanyu, his fan base has grown and this has opened doors for him. Allan says he went from being a nobody to stepping in a room and turning heads.
“As Allan Kutos I was a musician and a dancer but nobody ever saw me, no one knew who I was but being on Sanyu has changed so much for me, I go to an event and people want me to sit next to them, people are interacting with me and I have a lot of recognition.” He adds saying that acting has also given him a job. “With so much unemployment in the country, I am lucky to have a job that I wake up to go to every day and get paid for it. I thank Pearl Magic for giving me a reason to wake up each morning and fuel my passion” he declares.
Allan speaks on how acting has awoken some more talent in him, “apart from acting, I have my eyes set on directing. Sometimes during a scene, I feel like I it should have gone a certain way and this has driven me to consider directing in the future besides the acting” he asserts.
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Acting comes with a lot of pressure and with some big roles, the public is always looking to see what is next. Allan says since his rise to fame, the gravity to surpass people’s expectations has become immense.
“If you are good at what you do, you are going to get people’s attention, apart from the job you do, you are going to have to be the star that everyone sees in you. The aim is not being that celeb but turn this pressure around and you know just be you” Allan advised.
Speaking about novice actors that wish to explore the entertainment industry, Allan advises them to have humility and take opportunities as they come. “I would say for starters, have patience it is the outmost virtue you should have, brand yourself well so that people would like to have you in their movies and in their space generally then finally watch as many movies you never know what you can learn from the stars.” He guided.
Uganda has a lot of young uprising talent and MultiChoice aims at discovering, and giving them a platform on Pearl Magic, Pearl Magic Prime, and Pearl Magic Loko. Catch them on Home of Our Stars as Flavia Tumusiime delves into their personal life every Wednesday on the DSTV YouTube channel.
The internet has been abuzz following accusations leveled against Bruno Kiggundu, popularly known as Bruno K, over his alleged neglect of his son, Seth Kiggundu. In a tweet, a user identified as Keith alleged that Bruno K had abandoned his only son, Seth, and only pays attention to his daughter, Briella.
Keith claimed that Vanessa, his best friend, had a baby boy with Bruno K, and the singer had refused to fulfill his parental responsibilities towards Seth. He further accused Bruno of making Vanessa’s life difficult in 2022, which caused her to loathe the singer.
While it is essential to respect the baby’s privacy, it is crucial to hold public figures accountable for their actions, especially when they involve the welfare of children. The allegations against Bruno K are serious and should not be taken lightly.
Btw Bruno , Don't make me talk about how u are such a stupid and irresponsible father to Seth Kiggundu ,your own son from my Best friend Vanessa … Don't make me spill such info https://t.co/gxglViqRaU— The Accessories Guy Keith📱💻 (@TAG_Keith) March 22, 2023
Child abandonment is a severe issue that affects many children worldwide. It is a form of child neglect that can lead to adverse effects on a child’s development, including emotional and behavioral problems. Children who are abandoned by their parents may experience feelings of rejection, anger, and low self-esteem, which can lead to depression and anxiety.
As a public figure, Bruno K has a responsibility to set a good example for his fans and followers, especially young people. Neglecting one’s child is not only morally wrong but also illegal under Ugandan law. The Children’s Act of Uganda provides that every child has the right to parental care and protection, and any parent who neglects their child can be charged with child abuse.
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It is not clear whether the allegations against Bruno K are true, but if they are, he should take responsibility for his actions and do the right thing for his son. Children need both parents to grow up happy and healthy, and neglecting one’s child is unacceptable.
In conclusion, the allegations against Bruno K are serious, and if true, they represent a worrying trend of child neglect in Uganda. As a society, we must hold public figures accountable for their actions and demand that they do the right thing for their children. Let us all strive to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children, regardless of their family background.
City tycoon Sulaiman Kabangala aka SK Mbuga started up STV Uganda with the hope of it turning into the next big thing and yes it’s going to be the next big thing.
The TV station has captured the mass market despite hiring veteran presenters like Mbaziira Bashir, and Robin Kisti among others which has prompted them to change strategy.
According to the latest news coming through, it has been revealed that they are now planning to change it to become one of the top Television in Uganda with different themes and programs.
According to officials, further mentioned, “We shall produce world-class local content in edutainment and current affairs that help the younger more female Ugandan audience explore and aspire more within the local context even if they are online and have a global outlook. We’ll strive at expanding minds and creating limitless possibilities, with accurate reliable in-depth news; informative, engaging, and unique packages in Business, Sports, and Edutainment.”