Kadongo Kamu
Encyclopedia
Kadongo Kamu is a stylistic music genre native to Uganda
and is the oldest mainstream music genre in the country. The word "kadongo kamu" is a term in the Ganda language that means "one guitar". To understand why the genre has this name, one has to understand the stylistic structure of the music which is created with only one guitar, a bass guitar
. But this isn't always the case and many times other instruments are involved. However the true style of the music relies only on a bass guitar as instrumentation, hence the "one instrument" name.
from which the music evolved. There is a drumming style and dance called "Bakisimba" in ganda traditional music and it is one of the most well known drumming and dancing styles in traditional music in Uganda. The drum used in this music is a heavy bass drum that creates a pattern and sound that can easily be recreated with a bass guitar. The first musicians to practice this genre were inspired by this drumming pattern and started using bass guitars as an easier way of recreating the traditional sound without having to have a drum. This enabled them to move between various towns and villages while playing the music and delivering witty and reflective messages to various audiences that would all be familiar with the sound they were hearing. Thus the genre was born.
Most times the player of the guitar is usually the same person singing. Hence many practitioners tend to be good guitarists. The song structure is not well defined and can, in fact, seem like a long ode of some sort. The choruses are long and complex and are not meant to be repetitive and melodic like other genres. It is not music meant for dancing but rather for listening. That's why most singers are usually very witty and can deliver funny and thought provoking lyrics all in the same song. Just like the traditional music from which it came, storytelling is common place. Themes are usually centered on poverty, suffering, death and the general problems of life. Its because of this that the music is popular among peasants where poverty levels are much higher and there is a lot of empathy with the lyrical themes.
Over the past decade, there have been other musicians but they were overshadowed by the pop musicians in the new bustling pop music scene. Today, the genre is still marginalized but because the music is loved by cultural loyalists in the buganda
region, it is certain that there will always be an audience for kadongo kamu, as can be seen with current musicians like Fred Sebaale and Mathias Walukagga who are still enjoying music success.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and is the oldest mainstream music genre in the country. The word "kadongo kamu" is a term in the Ganda language that means "one guitar". To understand why the genre has this name, one has to understand the stylistic structure of the music which is created with only one guitar, a bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. But this isn't always the case and many times other instruments are involved. However the true style of the music relies only on a bass guitar as instrumentation, hence the "one instrument" name.
Form
To understand why the bass guitar is the instrument of choice, again one has to understand the Ganda traditional musicBaganda Music
Baganda music is a music culture developed by the people of Uganda with many features that distinguish African music from other world music traditions. Parts of this musical tradition have been extensively researched and well-documented, with textbooks documenting this research...
from which the music evolved. There is a drumming style and dance called "Bakisimba" in ganda traditional music and it is one of the most well known drumming and dancing styles in traditional music in Uganda. The drum used in this music is a heavy bass drum that creates a pattern and sound that can easily be recreated with a bass guitar. The first musicians to practice this genre were inspired by this drumming pattern and started using bass guitars as an easier way of recreating the traditional sound without having to have a drum. This enabled them to move between various towns and villages while playing the music and delivering witty and reflective messages to various audiences that would all be familiar with the sound they were hearing. Thus the genre was born.
Most times the player of the guitar is usually the same person singing. Hence many practitioners tend to be good guitarists. The song structure is not well defined and can, in fact, seem like a long ode of some sort. The choruses are long and complex and are not meant to be repetitive and melodic like other genres. It is not music meant for dancing but rather for listening. That's why most singers are usually very witty and can deliver funny and thought provoking lyrics all in the same song. Just like the traditional music from which it came, storytelling is common place. Themes are usually centered on poverty, suffering, death and the general problems of life. Its because of this that the music is popular among peasants where poverty levels are much higher and there is a lot of empathy with the lyrical themes.
History
Perhaps the first well known artist of the genre was Fred Masagazi in the 60's. Masagazi is considered by many the God father of kadongo kamu. His brand of educative singing won him many fans and he is one of the few musicians who was involved with Uganda's independence in 1962. Elly Wamala was another of the founders. They were followed by a number of musicians who kept true to the style and sound of the music. Herman Basudde was a very popular kadongo kamu musician in the 80's and 90's. Dan Mugula is one of the few surviving pioneers of the genre. Fred Sebatta and Paul Kafeero made their mark in the 90's. Kafeero is also revered as one of the most skillful kadongo kamu musicians ever and his song Walumbe Zaaya is one of the best and most popular Ugandan songs ever.Over the past decade, there have been other musicians but they were overshadowed by the pop musicians in the new bustling pop music scene. Today, the genre is still marginalized but because the music is loved by cultural loyalists in the buganda
Buganda
Buganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
region, it is certain that there will always be an audience for kadongo kamu, as can be seen with current musicians like Fred Sebaale and Mathias Walukagga who are still enjoying music success.