London, UK | BBC | Singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has won the 2020 Mercury Prize for his soul-searching third record, Kiwanuka. A lush, immersive album of politicised soul, it sees the star exploring themes of self-doubt, faith and civil rights. Released last November, Kiwanuka beat best-sellers like Dua Lipa’s Future …
Read More »Fighting COVID-19 with music
Why government should work with the musicians producing it – including Bobi Wine | DOMINIC D.B. MAKWA | Ugandan pop musicians have released a raft of songs and music videos to educate and alert the public about COVID-19. Notable among them have been Bobi Wine and Nubian Li’s `Corona Virus …
Read More »Counting the losses: COVID-19 costs artistes Sh150 billion
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Artistes across the creative value chain have lost at least sh150 billion in income in the last two months of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss covers those in creation, production, distribution and marketing. According to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and …
Read More »The Masaka Kids Africana go viral with Drake’s ‘Toosie Slide’
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A video by children of the charity group The Masaka Kids African has gone viral after they performed musician Drake‘s ‘Toosie Slide’ challenge. One of their videos got over a million views after the musician Drake posted the performance on his Instagram account. The …
Read More »Country music legend Kenny Rogers dies at 81
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Country music legend Kenny Rogers, whose career spanned six decades, has died at the age of 81, his family said late Friday. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” they said …
Read More »Listening to music in jam
It does more than calm you down | THE INDEPENDENT | Driving can be very stressful, particularly if you are stuck in heavy traffic or are an inexperienced driver, and this stress will eventually take its toll on the heart. However, researchers now confirm that there is a simple fix …
Read More »Music by the numbers: scientists reveal a secret to great song writing
Washington, United States | AFP | What makes some music so enjoyable, and can science help us engineer the perfect pop song? A group of researchers who statistically analyzed tens of thousands of chord progressions in classic US Billboard hits say they have found the answer, and it lies in the …
Read More »IGP: There will be no Bobi Wine Independence Day Concert
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Inspector-General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola has cancelled Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine’s independence music show. Ochola in his letter dated October 2nd, but released on Tuesday to Kampala Metropolitan police, said Kyagulanyi did not consider the plans for …
Read More »Buganda Road are National Primary Schools music festival champions
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Buganda Road Primary School is the champion of this year’s National Primary Schools Music, Dance and Drama Competition. Buganda Road Primary School garnered 917 points at the weeklong festival held at Sacred Heart Secondary School in Gulu town that ended on Saturday. The festive saw …
Read More »Sudan’s underground musicians turn defiant after uprising
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | During the day, Gadoora checks his patients at a clinic near Khartoum, but at night he locks himself in his room rapping songs which echo the sentiments of Sudan’s “revolution”. “The revolution broke the long-standing wall of fear,” said Gadoora. “Songs have become much more daring …
Read More »