Celebrating 50 years of Ssemadongo

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WHAT’S UP!

How does one even start to compress 50 years of extraordinary musical achievements in less than 1,000 words? Just listing what the Afrigo Band has done, without any explanation, probably requires a whole book.

First of all, it is difficult to comprehend a band performing for 50 years! Very few in history have reached that landmark, and even fewer are still active. In Africa, it is probably only South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo, formed in 1960, that can hang in there with Afrigo. It is even more amazing, given all the troubled times Uganda has been through, that the band has managed to survive through it all.

And Afrigo has not only just ‘survived’, it is still very much on top of its game. It still fills out venues, and it is the only Ugandan music outfit that regularly tours abroad.

Afrigo started in the cold days of Idi Amin’s Uganda in 1975. Most of the members had belonged to the Cranes Band, the first band in Uganda to consist of only Ugandans. Yes, most bands then were either Congolese or Asian. Ugandan musicians just played backup. The Cranes quickly became the most popular band in Uganda.

But when Idi Amin killed one of the band members, Jesse Gitta, because he wanted his girlfriend, Sarah, for a wife, tensions arose in the band. What really happened depends on who you ask, but several members of the Cranes band left and formed Afrigo. The band had its first gig at the then Bat Valley Bar & Restaurant on November 1, 1975.

Jeff Sewava was the band leader, but he soon left for Germany, and Moses Matovu took over. Over the years, many have joined the band and left. Many have passed on, but the Afrigo sound has survived. Matovu is the only one of the founder members (Charles Sekyanzi, Ssewava, Anthony Kyeyune, Geoffrey Kizito, Paddy Nsubuga and Fred Luyombya) who is still alive.

The mainstay of Afrigo has been ‘... discipline, collaboration and unwavering passion’, according to longtime executive director of the band James Wasula. They have ‘... performed in small halls and large stadiums; in war-torn towns and international festivals. They have inspired dancers in Kampala, evoked nostalgia in Boston and connected cultures in Nairobi, Kigali, Stockholm, London and Beijing, among others’.

Dozens of dissertations and theses will undoubtedly be written about the Afrigo sound and what makes it so uniquely Ugandan. The story is told of how, when Franco Luambo Makiadi came to Uganda in 1983, he was impressed with how well the band played his songs. But he challenged them to find their own sound. And the journey to ‘ssemadongo’ started.

‘Ssemadongo’ has been described as a fusion of traditional Buganda rhythms, Congolese rhumba, jazz harmonies and the unique percussions of reggae. Take the best of them all, and you have the Afrigo sound.

But all that has sat on the not-so-broad shoulders of Matovu, who has stood like a colossus through years of turmoil, success and immense loss. His commitment to professionalism, even when the rest of the country was okay with mediocrity, is legendary.

His insistence on discipline and ethical behaviour have been the backbone of the band’s long tenure as Uganda’s best band. And while he has written, composed and sang lead vocals on many of the band’s hit songs, he has not shied away from others doing the same. Indeed, some of the band’s most popular songs, like Jim and Mpe’ddembe, were written and sang by others.

But Matovu has not been alone, over the years, Joanita Kawalya (who joined the band in 1986) and Rachel Magoola (joined 1989) have cemented their part of the band’s identity. Eddie Ganja (lead guitar) is the second-longest serving band member, having joined in 1978. Saidi Kasule (sax and a member of the original Cranes) rejoined the band in 2000, Herman ‘Omwana we’nsenene’ Ssewanyana (congas) joined in 1980, while keyboard player Daniel Kaggwa joined in 1997.

The list of Ugandan musicians who have played with Afrigo at one time or another reads like a Who’s Who of the country’s music industry. These include Frank Mbalire, Tony and Rachel Ssenkebejje, Tony Ssengo, Dede Majoro, Don Canta, Fred Masagazi, Elly Wamala, Sammy Kasule, Amigo Wawawa and many others.

The band has recorded over 20 albums, starting in 1976. Unfortunately, those early recordings went missing due to Uganda’s turbulent times. The masters were looted and lost, while others were misplaced.

But this Saturday, 50 years of music will be celebrated at the Legends of Sound concert at the Lugogo Millennium grounds. Also in the house will be Congolese musician Kofi Olomide.

Apart from our Independence anniversary, there are not many things in Uganda that have celebrated 50 years. So, hats off to a very resilient band, and may you continue making magic. May ‘endongo ssemadongo’ live.