Herman Basudde (left) and Livingstone Kasozi (right) during one of their numerous reunions. Fred Sebatta, their Kadongokamu President at the time, stands between them, having played a pivotal role in mediating their reconciliation. PHOTO/COURTESY
Inside Uganda’s musical history, the seeds of rivalry were sown long before the recent clashes between contemporary artistes such as Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine and Musa Ssali, alias Bebe Cool, or songstresses Cindy Sanyu and Sheebah Karungi.
The echoes of such rivalries reverberate through time, reminding us that today’s musical conflicts have ancestral roots. The enigmatic feud between Kadongokamu heavyweights Herman Basudde and Livingstone Kasozi, who dominated the scene in the 1990s, remains an indelible chapter in Uganda’s musical lore.
After walking similar musical paths and sharing a longstanding connection, a public falling-out in the early 1990s created mutual dislike between both artistes. Basudde infamously tore into Kasozi for being afflicted with HIV/Aids, as their mutual old friend Antonio Ndawula recalls.
While both achieved moderate crossover success, their unyielding exchanges of verbal salvos captured public attention to such an extent that reconciling the two stars necessitated a grand show at Nakivubo Stadium in 1996.
To grasp the dynamics of their rivalry, one must delve into the factors that set them apart and fuelled their discord. In it all, Basudde’s superior vocal prowess, husky voice, lyrical prowess, and storytelling ability relegated Kasozi to the fringes.
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