Afrigo Band
{{Short description|Ugandan Musical Band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Afrigo Band
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| image_size =
| alias = Afrigo
| genre = African Rumba
Kidandali
Jazz
| years_active = {{Start date|1975}} – present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members = Joanita Kawalya, Rachel Magoola, Moses Matovu, Herman Ssewanyana
| past_members = Frank Mbalire
}}
Afrigo Band is a musical band in Uganda. It is the longest-lasting musical group in the history of Uganda, having existed for 44 years by August 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/646720-celebrating-afrigo-band.html|title=Celebrating Afrigo Band|date=31 August 2013|
accessdate=2 February 2015|newspaper=New Vision (Kampala)}}{{cite web
|date=October 2012
|last=Ssemutooke
|first=Joseph
|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=632224&CatID=417
|newspaper=New Vision Mobile (Kampala)
|accessdate=2 February 2015
|title=Afrigo: Uganda's Greatest Band
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225154810/http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=632224&CatID=417
|archivedate=25 December 2014
}}{{cite web|accessdate=2 February 2015|url=http://www.hipipo.com/music/news/1177/Hits-That-Made-Them--Moses-Matovu-And-Afrigo-Band|date=26 August 2011|publisher=Hipipo.com|title=Hits That Made Them: Moses Matovu And Afrigo Band|archive-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141225191420/http://www.hipipo.com/music/news/1177/Hits-That-Made-Them--Moses-Matovu-And-Afrigo-Band|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Kampala+most+resilient+band+Afrigo+plays+on/-/434746/1990058/-/ptxvk0/-/index.html%7Caccessdate=25|title=Kampala's Most Resilient Band Afrigo Plays On|date=12 September 2013|accessdate=2 February 2015|first=Bamuturaki|last=Musinguzi|newspaper=The EastAfrican (Nairobi)|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116055131/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Kampala+most+resilient+band+Afrigo+plays+on/-/434746/1990058/-/ptxvk0/-/index.html%7Caccessdate=25|url-status=dead}} It is led by Moses Matovu.
History
The band was formed by a group of eight musicians led by their band leader, vocalist, and alto saxophonist, Moses Matovu,{{cite web
|date=17 February 2013
|url=http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23755:38-and-still-counting&catid=73:highlights
|title=Afrigo: 38 And Still Counting
|accessdate=2 February 2015
|first=Hassan Badru
|last=Zziwa
|newspaper=The Observer (Uganda)
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225200245/http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23755%3A38-and-still-counting&catid=73%3Ahighlights
|archivedate=25 December 2014
}} who continued to lead the band on its 38th anniversary. Playing to their fans at home in Uganda, the group tours regularly in Europe and the United States to play to Ugandans in the Diaspora.{{cite web | accessdate=2 February 2015 | newspaper=Daily Monitor (Kampala)|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Entertainment/Afrigo-Band-s-38-years-relived-in-one-night/-/812796/1977382/-/w47ahnz/-/index.html|date=3 September 2013 | first=Ian | last=Ortega|title=Afrigo Band's 38 Years Relived In One Night}} He has been performing with the band since and is its leader, as of February 2015. The eight founding band members were:{{cite web|newspaper=New Vision (Kampala)|
url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/666450-at-40-afrigo-is-still-on-the-go.html|title=At 40, Afrigo Is Still On The Go|date=30 March 2015
|accessdate=30 March 2015|first=Carol|last=Natukunda}}
Band members
{{As of|January 2015}}, all except one of the founding band members had died. The band recruited replacements whenever a member left or died. Members of the band, past and present, include:
- Moses Matovu - founder member, band leader, saxophonist, lead vocals, composer
- Deo Mukungu - member, vocalist
- Herman Ssewanyana - congas
- Charles Ssekyanzi Mutagubya - vocalist, trumpet player, composer{{cite web
|title=Sekyanzi's Voice, Talent Will Forever Be Missed
|date=5 March 2009
|accessdate=2 February 2015
|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/507/673592
|first1=Arthur
|last1=Baguma
|first2=Herman
|last2=Sentongo
|newspaper=New Vision (Kampala)
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202205130/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/507/673592
|archivedate=2 February 2015
}}
- Mansur Bulegeya Akiki - tenor saxophonist
- Joanita Kawalya - vocalist, dancer
- Rachael Magoola - vocalist, dancer, composer
- Rashid Musoke - member
- Paul Serumaga - founder member
- Godfrey Mwambala - member
- Tony Sengo - member
- Tonny Ssenkebejje - solo guitarist
- Fred Kigozi - member
- Peter Bazanye - vocals
- Joe Tabula - vocals
- Frank Mbalire guitarist/vocals
- Edmond Ganja - guitarist/vocals
- Sammy Kasule - bassist/vocals
- Charles Busuulwa - bassist
- Eric Sabiiti - drummer
- Julious Nshaba - drummer
- Daniel Kaggwa - keyboards
- Isaac Zzimbe - drummer
- Jacinta Wamboga - dancer
- Sarah Namiyonga - dancer
- Aminye Rhoose - dancer
Discography
Some of the records and albums released by the band include the following:
| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" | ||
| style="width:2em;" |Year | Name of Record | Composer |
|---|---|---|
| Afrigo Batuuse | ||
| Akola Bwenkanya | Charles Ssenkyanzi | |
| Musa | Charles Ssenkyanzi | |
| Enneyisa | Charles Ssenkyanzi | |
| Rose Guma | Charles Ssenkyanzi | |
| Onnemye | Charles Ssenkyanzi | |
| Nnemeddwa | Charles Ssenkyanzi | |
| 1999 | Obangaina | Rachael Magoola |
| Sipiidi Kendeeza | ||
| Olumbe Lwo'bwaavu | ||
| Sikulimba (Olunderebu) | ||
| Jim | Joanita Kawalya |
Recent developments
In January 2015, Afrigo Band began regular performances at Club Silk, in Kampala's Industrial area, every Friday evening. Although the club attracts a predominantly young audience, with the arrival of Afrigo, Club Silk is expected to ring in more mature revelers, above the age of 40 years.{{cite web|
url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201502020076.html|date=1 February 2015|accessdate=2 January 2015|title=Uganda: Afrigo Finds Home At Silk|first=Felix|last=Eupal|newspaper=The Observer (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com}} In November 2015, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary with a sold-out concert at Hotel Africana, in Kampala.{{cite web|title=Uganda's Afrigo Band marks 40 years of music|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Uganda-s-Afrigo-Band-marks-40-years-of-music/-/434746/2973600/-/12mucpvz/-/index.html |last=Kakumirizi
|accessdate=28 November 2015 |date=27 November 2015 | first=Michael |newspaper=The EastAfrican|location=Nairobi}}
See also
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}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200838/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/632224-afrigo-uganda Afrigo: Uganda’s Greatest Band]
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