Maurice Kirya is one of the Ugandan Artists that you could say has benefited from music. He has been around for almost 20 years and when he was hosted on KFM, he delivered a lot more than debut his latest single.
When Brian Mulondo and Malaika Nyanzi the new hosts of D’Mighty Breakfast, Clearly Malaika, like any girl was looking forward to being around Mr Cool. Well we can’t say that same about Brian, that would suggest otherwise.
Brian and Malaika So you are now called the King of mwoyo, We are not debating that but Where and how did you come up with this genre?
Maurice “I wouldn’t say”.. [Hesitates], “well I did.” {Laughs} “Well I just enjoy music and what makes my heart happy is what I go with. When I was young I always wanted something that would separate me from everybody, all I wanted was a different identity in music. When I was young I did almost everything, Name it, Rap, dance, I played with blues and jazz bands so that helped me to create a fusion of my own and I loved soul and RNB Music. All I wanted was to create a different sound that is still Ugandan and still has soul and RNB. In the beginning everybody called it a joke, they laughed at me and 13 years later they call me the king of MWOYO”
Brian and Malaika BAGALA ALINA, was it your 1st songs?
Maurice “Yes it was and I can exclusively tell you that my 1st song was in 1998, I was about 17/18 years old. I remember I was still in primary, at Nakivubo blue Primary school and I also remember asking mom for permission to go to the studio. I remember her telling me “naye tosala ekubo, oba gamba omuntu akusaze” Meaning (don’t cross the road, if you are to then make sure someone helps you cross) “I started writing music when I was 15, one of those songs is Ugandan Girl, that’s why I tell people every dream is valid. If a song I wrote 20 years ago came back and became a hit then whoever is out there, don’t give up on your dream.
Brian and Malaika Do you have any regrets, if you do what is your biggest regret?
Maurice “My biggest regret is not paying enough attention in school. I have achieved a lot by being street smart, I can only imagine what I could have now if I had paid more attention in school. It doesn’t have to be, yes I paid my school fees with my music earnings since my senior two and I took school for granted but now that I am a grown up I know I could have learnt a lot more and be able to do a lot more today!”
