Artin Pro says we are blessed with a great culture and one day we may have a name if not names for our sounds. PHOTOS /COURTESY
Closer to home: The argument about a Ugandan sound has been an enduring one for as long as music has been enjoyed in the country. Given how African music is getting unprecedented recognition on the international scene lately, one cannot help but wonder if we have a Ugandan sound, and if we actually need one, writes Bash Mutumba.
“A sound implies a unique and outstanding sonic identity that represents and reflects a certain culture. We have a Ugandan sound. This is witnessed through our unique literature, stories, melodies, instruments and so much more,” says Martin Musoke, a Kampala-based record producer famously known as Artin Pro.
He notes that it takes daring minds to actually integrate native and contemporary sounds to a more authentic and appealing medium for the consumers, arguing that Uganda is a multi-cultural country but so is Africa, so generalising everything from Africa as Afrobeats is inaccurate.
Having made multiple hits for top artistes such as Fik Fameica, Spice Diana, Winnie Nwagi and others, Artin believes that in East Africa and Uganda in particular, people tend to largely produce for the available market first. He, however, acknowledges that the narrative is changing, as many creatives are currently targeting the global audience.
When asked about the ‘kidandali’ music that many purists often scoff at, Artin, whose touch is an amalgam of various cultural influences both native and global, retorted with a laugh: “Kidandali has employed many citizens, helped many through depression, connected many people, healed many and preserved our culture; even more than some of the prominent music genres. It is vital to appreciate its positive influence on our society without bias, but that does not mean it is our sound. We are blessed with a great culture as a nation and at some point with the right observations and guidance, we may have a name, if not names, for our sounds.”
Regional Identity?
READ FULL STORY HERE>>> Singer A Pass says a sound is a regional identity. It encompasses language, flow, patterns of how people speak, and what they talk about in any society
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