There has been a lot of political and non-political criticism towards artists on president Museveni’s presidential campaign song (Tubonga Naawe)… Nevertheless, this one is by far the worst of them all.
The hard hitting vitriol hurled against Juliana, Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone was unleashed in a long Facebook post by Dr. Stella Nyanzi a lecturer at Makerere University and a medical anthropologist with a PhD from the University of London.
DR. Stella Nyanzi.
Dr. Nyanzi had this to tell them;
But to go and prostitute yourselves before the oppressor, compose and sing your 'Tubonga Nawe' composition to him, kneel down and grovel before him, was selling your souls to the devil. Fine: you needed the oppressor's money because you have stomachs and dependents. However, of what use are you to Ugandans today, if you are going to side with the enemy of the people? You should be singing songs that taunt the oppressor and his agents of oppression. Your music should be exposing the governance deficits we have in Uganda. When my clans-mate sang 'Tugambire ku Jennifer akendeze obukambwe', that was bravery speaking from and of the plight of Kampala dwellers. It was revolutionary! We need musicians who are going to inspire the revolution that we need in Uganda today. Ebisigadde mandazi! Nze nange, SIBONGA NAWE!
Read Full Statement.
"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds...," Bob Marley appealed to us in his 'Redemption Song'. I am sending out this song to all those yellow Ugandan musicians this morning.
Music is powerful; a very powerful influence that can move individuals and masses of people. In times of social disillusionment, civil strife and national crises such as face us in Uganda today, music can be a powerful tool. 'Negro Spirituals' were very powerful sources of courage, hope, resolve and comfort during slavery. The historical record of battle and hunting songs were powerful motivation for traditional warriors and hunters from our local kingdoms. The kadogos' music of the revolutionary NRA in the 80s was powerful inspiration during the long war to liberate Uganda.
Musicians who produce music must know their role(s) in the struggle we face as a country today. It is self-defeating and dumb to ally with the oppressors when everyday struggles affect masses of Ugandans who consume your music. It is evil of our local musicians to sell their soul to the oppressive machine of undemocratic NRM rule in today's Uganda. If a musician is not going to ally with the masses of oppressed Ugandans demanding change in governance and an end to corruption, then it is okay for that musician to continue singing about love, morality, God, everyday life and work. We shall understand that this musician is non-political, non-revolutionary, a peace-loving coward. We shall understand.
But to go and prostitute yourselves before the oppressor, compose and sing your 'Tubonga Nawe' composition to him, kneel down and grovel before him, was selling your souls to the devil. Fine: you needed the oppressor's money because you have stomachs and dependents. However, of what use are you to Ugandans today, if you are going to side with the enemy of the people? You should be singing songs that taunt the oppressor and his agents of oppression. Your music should be exposing the governance deficits we have in Uganda. When my clans-mate sang 'Tugambire ku Jennifer akendeze obukambwe', that was bravery speaking from and of the plight of Kampala dwellers. It was revolutionary! We need musicians who are going to inspire the revolution that we need in Uganda today.
Ebisigadde mandazi! Nze nange, SIBONGA NAWE!
