Darius Mugisha and Abbey Rafsanjan Tatya
10 October 2008
The Kora awards are back and a couple of Ugandan musicians are representing the country in this year's edition.
Michael Ross (It's Over Now), Suzan Kerunen (Ngomm) Blu3 (Burrn) and Klear Kut (Klear Discussion) will be will be taking on several artistes from the East African region.
Any of regional nominees stands a chance of winning the Best African Artiste award, which comes with a cash prize of $1m and it is up to their fans to vote for them. The artistes travelled to Benin for a competitive concert which will air live on CFI-partner channels tonight and the continent will vote for the artiste of the year judging from the perfromances. The concert will air on UBC, which is CFI's Ugandan partner.
Bebe Cool is the only other Ugandan musician nominated in this year's Koras in two categories; Best Spiritual (Praise God) and Best Reggae artiste (Born In Africa). Unlike the regional nod, the two categories don't qualify Bebe to compete for the $1m but he is still excited about the nominations. He told 24/7 that he now has all the rights to cling to his title of "Omunene" (big) after last year's Mobo awards nod followed by a triumph at last year's Channel O Music Video awards, a performance at the Nelson Mandela birthday and now the two nominations at the Koras.
Bobi, Barbie get baby girl
Singer Bobi Wine and Barbie received a new member of the family last Friday, shortly after the artiste had had a bitter exchange with the police for stopping his Mazzi Mawanvu concert prematurely at Kati Kati grounds in Lugogo. Barbie gave birth to a baby girl the couple named Shalom Namagembe at 3a.m. on Saturday morning at Kampala Hospital. The baby is the couple's second child after their two-year old Solomon Kampala Kyagulanyi II.
Bobi Wine who is no stranger to adding comical twists to events thinks the police's move had something to do with Barbie's unexpected birth. In fact, though he had called the cops names that night, Bobi had a reason to thank Kayihura's boys on Saturday morning. "As we argued with the police, Barbie's tension rose and it resulted into labour pains," Bobi was overheard telling friends the following morning.
Bobi and his entire crew spent Saturday morning in hospital from where they headed straight to Colline Hotel in Mukono for the second edition of their concert. After Sunday's show at Ggaba Beach, Bobi drove to Ange Noir and went around telling whoever cared to listen about his new baby girl. Bobi did not stay long, he drove back home to spend sometime with his family.
Chameleone visited by rivals
After his accident in Arusha last weekend, Jose Chameleone needs lots of support during this trying moment. The star fell off the third floor of a hotel as he sleep-walked and he is now bed ridden with broken ankle bones. Luckily, he's getting support from more than one source. Not only are his family and friends looking out for him, but also his musical rivals are praying for him to get well.
One of them is Bobi Wine who said he prays that Chameleone heals fast every morning. The Ghetto President said that he was touched to learn that Chameleone had broken his legs. In fact, Bobi Wine visited the self-proclaimed heavyweight champion of music and talked to him from his hospital bed at Nsambya Hospital on Monday. During the visit, a smiling Chameleone shook hands with Bobi as the Ghetto President said, "I wish you a quick recovery, my blood." Part of the Firebase Crew escorted Bobi Wine to the hospital and they all wished Chameleone a quick recovery. Meanwhile, Bebe Cool, who is another of Chameleone's archrivals gave him a phone call and wished him "a quick recovery" as well. Now that's the trio of Bebe Cool, Bobi Wine and Chameleone we all love to see.
Rally driver Susan Muwonge starts singing
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the new lady on the block; Susan Muwonge aka Super Lady. After standing out as a remarkable rally driver, Muwonge has something to prove on the music scene. She has outed a new single titled Sirina Kuwankawanka. Even if it's her debut song, Muwonge argues that she is not new to singing. "I started singing way back in school and I believe I can make a mark on the music scene," she was overheard telling friends over the weekend.
In the song, Muwonge thanks her husband for loving and caring for her and advises other women to stick to their men if they are to receive all the desired love and care. Muwonge says she is not singing for money, but rather driven by love for singing and she feels its time to develop her talent.
Genevive Nnaji, Ramsey Noah here in November
News reaching our desk indicates that prominent Nollywood faces Ramsey Noah and Genevive Nnaji will arrive in Uganda on November 20 ahead of their appearance at the Uganda Movie Awards ceremony to be held at Hotel Africana on November 22. Members of the public will be able to interact with the pair during a public show at Ggaba beach on November 23.
Uganda Federation of Movie Industry, the organisers of the Uganda Movie awards, are behind the Nigerian duo's trip to Uganda.
Mawanda upgrades to Bafudde
WBS African Rythms presenter cum real estate dealers Jomayi PRO Dennis Mawanda has joined the Range Rover cruising class. Well, it might be a 1998 model just like Bebe Cool's Bafudde, but a Range Rover is always top of the range. We discovered that Mawanda didn't spend a cent on the SUV, registration no. UAJ 200H, as it was given to him by Jomayi boss Joseph Magandazi to ease his movements while on official duty. The Baffudde Range Rover belonged Magandazi, who recently upgraded to the luxurious 2007 Range Rover Sport series similar to the one owned by tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia that he customised with a registarion plate Jomayi.
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