The 90s was the era that blessed
us with nouveau pop talents such as Brenda Z'obbo, Bob Bashabe, Steve Jean,
Roger Mugisha, Peter Sematimba, Simon Base Kalema, Lillian Butere, Jenkins
Mukasa, Terry Divos, Jimmy Bageire, Rasta Rob and Shanks Vivi Dee. This crop of
artistes epitomized the influence of American culture that later led to the
proliferation of rap, pop and ragga music genres in the industry.
On a sad note, this was the decade
in which Herman Basudde, the man whose most famous songs were the classics Bus
Dunia and Mukyala Mugerwa, died in a grisly road accident in circumstances
similar to the referenced allegory in his song: Bus Dunia.
The tail-end of the 90s would see
Ragga Dee make an attempt at reinvention, experimenting with different genres
such as reggae, ragga, soukous, and kwaito. A generation of industry entrants
on the scene was in the offing. It was only a matter of time before the advent
of new genres and new faces hit the scene.
This was the decade that saw the
birth of what we now know as band music. Responsible for nurturing artistes
such as Mesach Semakula, Geoffrey Lutaaya, Ronald Mayinja, Roy Kapale, Harriet
Kisaakye, Catherine Kusasira, Irene Namatovu, Stecia Mayanja, and Haruna
Mubiru, the formation of Eagles Production effectively gave birth to a new
genre of music toward the turn of the century. Other notable artistes in this
category included Mariam Ndagire, Mariam Mulinde, Betty Mpologoma, and Queen
Florence among others.
But before all this could unfold,
a somber start to the millennial decade had the music industry lose no less
than six artistes in quick succession: Carol Nakimera, Paul Katende (Ebonies),
Sarah Birungi, Cissy Nakku, and Afrigo Band’s Amigo Wawawa. Elly Wamala (2004)
and Paul Kafeero (2007).
In the same period, the Chaka
Demus/Pliers influence on the local industry simply refused to wane. This was
the era of duets, collabos and performing duos; an era that saw General Mega
Dee (Amos Kigenyi) and Menton Kronno (Vincent Kibondwe) shine bright in a
partnership that would bless us with a collection of music albums such as Nze
Ndeka (1999), Omukwano gwo (2000), Beera Nange (2001), Ekiri mu bbeere (2002)
and Wasiwasi (2003).
The 2000s would not be all gloom
as the industry had more-than-welcome additions. This was the decade of musical
groups, boys and girls alike. Strutting their stuff at DV8, Klear Kut, a
hip-hop outfit began to rise in prominence; their style mainly resonating with
the urban youths of the time. In their ranks, the group composition had rappers
Navio (Daniel Lubwama Kigozi), Papito (Habib Abdul Hussein), The Myth (Tom
Mayanja), Langman (Abba Lang) and JB (Jonathan Leslie aka J-baller).
Mind, Body & Soul, their first
album, was a big success and would go on to top Hip-Hop chats in East Africa. This
was the album that spawned songs like All I Wanna Know (featuring Juliana
Kanyomozi) and Superstar (featuring Bebe Cool).
In 2000, Madoxx (David Amon
Ssemanda Sematimba), an artiste who had lived in Gothenburg for close to 10
years finally released his first full album out. Tukolagane was a blockbuster
reggae collection that featured timeless reggae ballads that included, among
others: “Namagembe", "Tukolagane", "Omukwano Gwafe"
and "Eddembe" among others.
He would soon follow this up with
a second album – Abato – in 2006 and was right on course to dominate the music
industry for long until a nasty divorce preceded his deportation, leaving him
in an abyss of protracted despair and a forced music hiatus.
