Emmanuel Ssejjengo
17 February 2009
Kampala — What wrong did we do to you? We do not deserve this," one Mariam Ndagire fan shouted during the Majangwa album launch at Theatre La Bonita last Friday.
That complaint was genuine. Mariam Ndagire was singing her last as she launched her 10th album. And she refused to take back her word against the wishes of some who begged her to remain a musician.
Her last breath on the microphone was expected to be a merry affair. But Ndagire remained humble, simply chatting with her audience as a form of musical interval.
For one whose recording career goes back to 1997, there should have been as much ululation to mark it. That seemed to have been left for a group of hijab-donning women seated on the first rows who went down to their knees and sang along to Ndagire's songs.
There were several curtain raisers and the wait for Ndagire was quite long. And when it was all over, she would choose to chat with her fans. She commands much respect with her disarming tone. Which other artistes could take such a risk, talking instead of singing? It often results into insults from the audience. But such was absent even as she gave out certificates to those who have made her a force in music.
She changed her attire thrice. With a new designer, she came across as less flamboyant although she maintained the bright colours. After performing the songs that made it to the hit-list like Abakazi Twalaba, she came to Majangwa that has not made expected success.
And humbly, she thanked the audience and the curtains were drawn.
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