Tshaka Mayanja, one of the brains behind the All Music Safari experience, whose main serving has always been fine live music, says regardless of how trends may have reshaped culture, live music is an experience that cannot be replicated.
Tshaka Mayanja
More than two years since the Covid-19 lockdown was lifted in Uganda, the music scene has drastically changed, for instance, festivals started prioritising curating performing DJs over singers and performing artistes.
In Kampala, for instance, for every 10 shows taking place in the past three years, six of them were usually a DJ-led experience and most of the times, they have been promoted as raves or parties rather than concerts.
Yet Tshaka Mayanja, one of the brains behind the All Music Safari experience, whose main serving has always been fine live music played to perfection, says regardless of how the pandemic and technology may have reshaped culture, live music is an experience that cannot be replicated.
“Very many people have tried even with online shows or inviting DJs to cover part of the instrumentation. The reason most people do this is because they do not want to pay people, but technology is meant to aid people not replace them. Plus DJs and technology lack the human element,” he says.
Mayanja was speaking at the Kampala Serena Hotel’s Kyoga Conference Hall where different music stakeholders met to launch the Dfcu Jazz in the Pearl Festival.
The event which will also serve as the long awaited homecoming of saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa will take place at Kampala Serena on May 10.
The show is a leap into live music which has more less been forgotten on Uganda’s music and performance scene over the years; Katumwa will be joined by Grammy nominated saxophonist, Kirk Whalum.
Not a first
Kirk Whalum is not new to the Ugandan audience, having played in Uganda twice before, however, what most people may not be aware of is his impressive resume. Over the years, he has worked with super producer Quincy Jones, Babyface, Bob James, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston among others.
Kirk Whalum has performed at the All Music Safari and also headlined a Rotary Fundraiser, this will be his third time taking the stage in Kampala. The artiste, whose last time on stage in Kampala was in 2019 at the Kampala Serena alongside Angelina Kidjo and Darren Rahn is poetic justice to a music culture the local industry was forgetting.
Tshaka Mayanja alongside the Blackroots Academy of Soul will join the stellar setup. The outfit which has over the years redefined session and mainstream performances is cut for performances such as this.
With vocalists and instrumentalists worth the billing, they have been a constant curation at Club Guvnor’s Oldies Nights, but their influence stretches beyond the nights to other mainstream artiste’s show performances.
Tonya Michelle, for instance, is known to have coached A Pass vocally before he embarked on his solo concert at Serena. She was also the powerful voice backing Nameless when he had his first live performance at Blankets and Wine last year.
