By Geraldine Nababiito
“If music be the food of love, play on.”– William Shakespeare Like any other Ugandans, I have grown up in an environment that promotes the joy of music, dance and drama.
Like most Ugandans, I have grown up in an environment that promotes the joy of music, dance and drama. At school, one of our favorite activities was the Cultural day. This was a day when all different houses in school showcased; not just to the judges but also to our parents, guardians, friends and family; talent through miming, traditional dances and singing folk songs.
Our heroes were those most creative of our local artists. People like Alex Mukulu captured our history, and our imagination, with plays like the acclaimed “30 years of Bananas.” Musicians like Philly Bongoley Lutaaya captured the tragedy of HIV/AIDS in their soulful melodies; Afrigo Band taught us the sanctity of family through songs like “Jim.”
During the holidays, I always looked forward to concerts by artists like Bebe Cool, film and stage plays at theatres, high school buzz parties and parties that were organized by students in high school. However, the emergence of COVID-19 dented the social activity that is music. First reported in China’s Wuhan province, the Covid -19 virus left the authorities in the nation no choice but to halt all concerts in Uganda.
The corona virus has disrupted the way we; particularly in the typical African set up, congregate to celebrate. Africans believe in the convergence of whole villages to celebrate music, dance, drama and even marriage, unfortunately we now have a new reality; we cannot converge. H.E. President Museveni, in trademark cheeky style, coined the phrase “Scientific wedding” and “Scientific gathering” to describe this “new normal.”
As a firm believer in practicality, I know there is always a plausible solution to every problem. To begin with, we all need to come to terms with the fact that the world is no longer the same and won’t be for a while. Artists/ Musicians need to move away from their rudimentary way of doing things – such as only earning from Ekidula kyomwaka – and understand the value of modern recording and distribution, as well as help champion Copyright Law in Uganda.
To do this, they must use government agencies such as Uganda Registration Services Bureau(URSB) and the Attorney General (AG). They must understand the operations of the Cultural desks at our embassies as well as the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development.
Uganda maintains 31 embassies with a cultural desk at each of these. Musicians have the opportunity to use these ‘avenues’ of State and revive their industry. Some Foreign Missions to Uganda also have cultural programs to benefit our fledgling Music and Drama scene. For instance the Embassy of France is conducting a cultural project that started in 2020 and will run for 5 years. Perhaps if our musicians were aware about all these projects, there would not be this financial crisis brought on by the virus that led to a national lockdown and banning of concerts, shows and theatre plays
Also UNESCO and the European Union (EU) run a project aimed at supporting the development of the local film industry. Sadly musicians do not take initiative to learn these things in order to earn from their talent.
Musicians should know how to leverage- strategically music streaming apps such as Spotify as well as social media to create income for themselves. They are experiencing a difficult situation but perhaps this is an opportunity to join the digital migration. Furthermore I urge musicians to choose unity as they navigate these uncertain times. A united front would create organization and give them more room for growth of their art and income. Additionally, musicians can engage different government agencies. So that they can hold virtual concerts and shows hence enabling capable citizens to access their entertainment at a specific charge.
When all is done, our government was right to place us under lockdown. The national good outweighed any financial inducement that could have accrued to our artisans.
However, Covid19 has presented an opportunity at reform of a hitherto rudimentary sector.
Programs such as Emyooga are also an opportunity for artists and dramatists to again in their quest for financial independence.
The writer is a Communications Assistant at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.