Prime
Walukagga launches 'Bakoowu'
Walukagga sings for his mother and aunt at his concert. Photo by Edgar R. Batte.
Bakoowu is a Luganda word loosely translated to mean ‘they are tired’ but it has gotten a new slang-like connotation, thanks to Kadongo Kamu singer Mathias Walukagga’s new song titled Bakoowu. On Friday he held a concert titled after the song, which torches into our society where values have been lost and moral decadence is on the rise simply because people ‘are tired’.
But the song made a loud message to politicians for the song’s political overtones. The Vision Heroes singer in typical Kadongo Kamu style goes on in a whole 10 minutes to analyse matters in society as much as his music video depicts. The concert was at Club Obbligato.
He tackles issues of health officials and teachers who have abandoned work because they are poorly paid, prostitutes who he said were once married but gave up on marriage because of mistreatment, the continuous revolts that are quelled with teargas and lashes at artistes who are vulgar in their lyrics in the name of fighting each other. He sings on that people are so suspicious about each other, about leaders that have given up on representing the electorate because of lack of rule of law and how the needy have been neglected, among other situations in society.
These scenarios were easily interpreted as a message that represents discontent and the politicians present echoed the same messages. These included the chief guest the Kampala Lord Mayor, Elias Lukwago who bought the music CD at $300 (about Shs750,000). More money was raised in the auction including Shs300,000 from MP for Rubaga North Moses Kasibante, Lady Maureen who bought it at Shs100,000, Shs500,000 from Kampala Central Woman MP, Nabilah Nagayi Ssempala, Shs500,000 from Mukono Municipality MP, Betty Nambooze Bakileke, Shs1m from Kampala Central MP, Haji Muhammad Nsereko, Shs1m from Kampala City Council councilor Shifra Lukwago, Shs100,000 from comedian and A4C’S Paddy Bitama, and Shs500,000 from Brig Elly Kayanja.
The artiste took time to invite his mother and aunt, both elderly ladies, on stage as he sang Omuzadde Tagulwa (a parent is priceless), a tribute song to parents. He then went on to sing other songs on his Bakoowu album, songs like Tomala Gasoma (be keen on what course your pursue) on which he faults the education system and career choices made, and Bambega (spies).
On this album are also songs like Bwino Wekomera (tales from prison), Miss World, Nattalo, Bizibu Family, Katulepuke, Ntika Nkutike (let’s help one another), Neyanziza (thank you), Onkoonako (call me) and Kampase Mukyalo (I’ll marry a villager).
Despite KCCA regulations that shows should end at 10pm, Walukagga’s concert ended at 1am.
