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Western artistes showcase musical talents
A troupe performs a traditional dance. Photo By Colleb Mugume
It is not that easy for upcoming artists, especially the rural based, to get a platform to showcase their talents. They are overshadowed by the already established ones and fail to make a breakthrough if they do not get promoters. Those in the western region, however got a rare opportunity, last Saturday, June 1, at the Art and Culture festival concert organised by Bayimba Cultural Foundation.
Various musicians from different parts of Ankole performed at the day and night event at Agip Motel in Mbarara. There were dancers, instrumentalists, Hip-Hop and Runya-fro rappers, R&B, gospel, Afro-beat and classical music singers.
Raps and steps
The festival, the third event of its kind held in the region in the last three years, was meant to give platform to artistes, musicians and cultural groups as way of developing their talents.
Divine Jazz band from Mbarara sung classic music in a very fascinating style. They had ladies with melodic voices and gentlemen for deeper voices, which made their performance amazing. Moxy from Mbarara rocked the revellers with his “Runya-fro” raps urging them to rap alongside him. Lady Shantel, who is mostly known as Western Keko too proved that she is as talented a rapper.
Former Mbarara NTV Hot Steps representative Mathew and his group, Invincible Dance Crew, rocked with their dance styles. Musyo Mutabani Wabwogi, General Gegion and Edie, who are considered R&B singers, also exhibited their talents and received wild cheers.
Thrills and jumps
However, the display of cultural performances was really wanting. There were fewer performerscompared to other regions like Buganda and Bunyoro where it is vibrant. A number of factors can explain this decline including non-existence of the kingdom that would act as rallying institution for such. Religion, education and adoption of western norms and values could be another explanation.
United Cultural Performers worked the revellers with rousing Kinyankole traditional dances served with songs such as Yokonia. In song and dance they displayed Ankole cultural norms and values like cattle keeping, cultivation and dress codes. Kahonaho Obadia, 22, a traditional dancer and acrobat, also stunned the audience by jumping through the bicycle wheel and tossing and wearing three hats successively.
Alan Tonix, Moxy and Ambassador Ssalli performed. The next regional festival will take place next year, according to the director Faisal Kiwewa.
