KAMPALA – The vibrant rhythms and melodies of Ugandan music have a rich history that spans decades. From the traditional folk songs of the different traditional kingdoms to the modern-day fusion of African beats and international styles, Ugandan music has evolved significantly over the years.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Ugandan music was characterized by traditional folk songs, played on instruments such as the ndongo (a type of drum) and the adungu (a type of harp). These songs were often sung in local languages, such as Luganda, Runyankore, and Lusoga, and told stories of everyday life, myths, and legends.
The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of popular music in Uganda, with genres such as Afrobeat, Reggae, and Zouk gaining popularity. Artists such as Philly Lutaaya, Afrigo Band, and Kadongo Kamu became household names, and their music continues to be enjoyed by many Ugandans today.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Ugandan music underwent a significant transformation, with the introduction of modern recording technology and the rise of urban music styles such as Hip-Hop and R&B. Artists such as Chameleon, Bebe Cool, Bobi Wine, and Juliana Kanyomozi became popular, and their music helped to put Ugandan music on the international map.
Today, Ugandan music is more diverse than ever, with a wide range of genres and styles being represented. From the traditional folk songs of the past to the modern-day fusion of African beats and international styles, Ugandan music continues to evolve and thrive.
PML Daily seats down with one of the persons who have been at the forefront of this evolution Paddy Kayiwa Mukasa aka Paddyman, a renowned music producer and artist who has been in the industry for decades. Paddyman’s journey in music began in the early 2000s, when he started producing music for local artists.
With over 20 years of experience, he has seen the industry evolve from analogue to digital.
Paddyman took us through his journey in music production, which began in 2003. He says getting into production, he begun as just a keyboard church player for one Mark Kirwana, a gospel artist as early as 2003 before he took him to a studio to play for him.
His big break came when he recorded a song for Kirwana, which became a hit. “So, going to that studio, that’s when I recorded this song, Omukisa Ogutayina Buyinike. Oh, it became a hit, and Golokoka Yaka, and some other songs.”
As the music industry evolved, Paddyman adapted to the changes. “Then after some time, I also went to Dream Studio. That is of Eddie Yawe. That’s where I started fully being recognized as a full-time producer.”
He credits Eddie Yawe for teaching him the skills he needed to succeed in the industry. “Mr. Yawe got me through all how to use the gadgets. He had analogue gadgets. He had computers, but he was more of an analogue studio, because I remember we had a mouth track, consoles, and everything was analogue.”
The shift from analogue to digital music has had a significant impact on the industry. Paddy stresses that the introduction of the MP3, the WAV, the digital players, and other formats, all flopped the market. “Remember, music was now being streamed online….being put on online stores.”
The music expert believes that the digital migration has done more harm than good to the music industry in Uganda. “…because we were not ready for the digital migration as a country. We were not told. We just found ourselves there.”
According to him, the lack of preparedness has resulted in artists struggling to earn a living from their music. “We were not told how bad piracy is. For example, I think it was Apple. Apple was among the first streamers, the first company to sell music online.”
Paddy emphasizes the importance of empowering artists and teaching them how to convert their talents into liquid cash. “Ugandans should know talent is talent, but it’s useless until you convert it into cash.”
He also believes that artists should be responsible for promoting positive values through their music. “Let’s encourage them. Let’s work on our society, first of all. And let’s encourage musicians to be pro-society. I mean, to try to bring back the society to the right direction.”
Paddy is optimistic about the future of the music industry in Uganda. “Whatever dies, resurrects. Let’s assume music has been dead. Music has been dead, yes, honestly. I believe, there has to be a new breed of new artists with a sober mind.”
The music expert is committed to mentoring and training young artists, teaching them the skills they need to succeed in the industry. “I’ve been training some people through the art of beat making, I’ve been training some people here, just training them how to bring out new skills.”
“My legacy, as I’ve been in the industry for quite some time, coming to 20 years, I think I’ve done all the songs, but now I want to bring up a new generation.”
As the music industry continues to evolve, Paddyman remains committed to promoting positive values and empowering artists to succeed. “Uganda has a future in musicals. Uganda has a future. We have people, as much as there is bad music, but there is also good music out there.”
