Afrigo Band

Last updated

This is an article about a Ugandan musical band.

Afrigo Band
Also known asAfrigo
Origin Kampala - Uganda
Genres African Rumba
Kidandali
Jazz
Years active1975 (1975) – Present (Present)
Members Joanita Kawalya, Rachel Magoola, Moses Matovu, Herman Ssewanyana
Past members Frank Mbalire

The Afrigo Band is a Musical band in Uganda. It is the longest-lasting musical group in the history of Uganda, having existed for 44 years by August 2019. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is led by Moses Matovu.

Contents

History

The band was formed by a group of eight musicians led by their band leader, vocalist, and alto saxophonist, Moses Matovu, [5] who continued to lead the band on its 38th anniversary. [2] [4] Playing to their fans at home in Uganda, the group tours regularly in Europe and the United States to play to Ugandans in the Diaspora. [6] He has been performing with the band since and is its leader, as of February 2015. [3] The eight founding band members were: [7]

Band members

As of January 2015, all except one of the founding band members had died. The band recruited replacements whenever a member left or died. Members of the band, past and present, include: [2] [3] [5]

Discography

Some of the records and albums released by the band include the following: [2] [3] [4] [5]

YearName of RecordComposer
Afrigo Batuuse
Akola BwenkanyaCharles Ssenkyanzi
MusaCharles Ssenkyanzi
EnneyisaCharles Ssenkyanzi
Rose GumaCharles Ssenkyanzi
OnnemyeCharles Ssenkyanzi
NnemeddwaCharles Ssenkyanzi
1999 Obangaina Rachael Magoola
Sipiidi Kendeeza
Olumbe Lwo'bwaavu
Sikulimba (Olunderebu)
Jim Joanita Kawalya

Recent developments

In January 2015, Afrigo Band began regular performances at Club Silk, in Kampala's Industrial area, every Friday evening. Although the club attracts a predominantly young audience, with the arrival of Afrigo, Club Silk is expected to ring in more mature revelers, above the age of 40 years. [9] In November 2015, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary with a sold-out concert at Hotel Africana, in Kampala. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African jazz</span> Musical style in South Africa

South Africa has a notable jazz scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juliana Kanyomozi</span> Ugandan musician, actress (born 1980)

Juliana Kanyomozi is a musician actress and entertainer. She is a multiple award-winning Ugandan pop musician, an R&B and Afro Beat Singer well known among Western Uganda's decent musicians. Juliana was born on 27 November 1980, at Toro Fort Portal in Western Uganda of the Mutooro tribe. She is one of Western Uganda's descent among other musicians including Angella Katatumba, Allan Toniks and Ray G.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1959 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1959 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1978 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1980 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1955 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1955 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1957 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1944 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1947 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1947 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1941 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1941 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1936 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1936 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1936

Trinity College Nabbingo (TRICONA), is an all-girls boarding school covering grades 8–13 in Central Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanita Kawalya</span> Uganda musician

Joanita Kawalya is a Ugandan musician and activist. She is a member of the Afrigo Band, the longest-lasting musical band in Uganda, which has been in continuous existence since 1975.

Frank Mbalire is a Ugandan musician and guitarist. He was one of the members of Afrigo Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moses Matovu</span> Ugandan musician

This is an article about a Ugandan band head musician.

Herman Ssewanyana is a Ugandan musician and percussionist. He is the current Band Leader, Musical Director and Percussionist with the musical group Percussion Discussion Africa. He is a member and percussionist with the musical band Afrigo Band, the longest-lasting musical band in Uganda, which was founded in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milégé</span> Ugandan world music band

Milege Afrojazz Band, commonly known as Milege, is a world music band from Uganda, made up of young talented musicians from Uganda whose enthusiasm is derived from the diverse cultural music traditions of the different tribes of Uganda into which they fuse contemporary elements to express the likeness of Uganda's people in a more current context. As of 2015 Milege's members are; guitarist Manana F. Birabi, vocalist Joanita Katushabe, lead vocalist Gloria Akugizibwe, bassist Paul Owembabazi and violinist Alison Nadunga as a seasoned member.

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1913.

The Uganda Police Band is the sole ensemble of the Uganda Police and the mandated police band of the Republic of Uganda, being stationed in Kampala. It is responsible for playing at police ceremonies and community events. It was founded in the mid-1960s following Ugandan independence. In September 2019, it launched its first affiliated police band in the Lango sub-region.

References

  1. "Celebrating Afrigo Band". New Vision (Kampala). 31 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ssemutooke, Joseph (October 2012). "Afrigo: Uganda's Greatest Band". New Vision Mobile (Kampala). Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Hits That Made Them: Moses Matovu And Afrigo Band". Hipipo.com. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Musinguzi, Bamuturaki (12 September 2013). "Kampala's Most Resilient Band Afrigo Plays On". The EastAfrican (Nairobi). Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Zziwa, Hassan Badru (17 February 2013). "Afrigo: 38 And Still Counting". The Observer (Uganda) . Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. Ortega, Ian (3 September 2013). "Afrigo Band's 38 Years Relived In One Night". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. Natukunda, Carol (30 March 2015). "At 40, Afrigo Is Still On The Go". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  8. Baguma, Arthur; Sentongo, Herman (5 March 2009). "Sekyanzi's Voice, Talent Will Forever Be Missed". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  9. Eupal, Felix (1 February 2015). "Uganda: Afrigo Finds Home At Silk". The Observer (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com . Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  10. Kakumirizi, Michael (27 November 2015). "Uganda's Afrigo Band marks 40 years of music". The EastAfrican . Nairobi. Retrieved 28 November 2015.