Ssewa Ssewa
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ssewa Ssewa
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alias = Ssewa Ssewa
| birth_name = James Ssewakiryanga
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1987|06|25}}
| birth_place = Kampala, Uganda
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Folk music, World music
}}
| occupation = Musician, Instrumentalist, Music entrepreneur
| instrument = Janzi, Akogo, Adungu, Endongo, Endigidi, Amadinda, Engoma, Mbira and percussions
| label = Janzi Music
| associated_acts = Isaiah Katumwa, Giovanni Kiyingi, Joel Sebunjo, Mame Ndiake, Suzan Kerunen
| website =
}}
James Ssewakiryanga Junior,{{cite web|title=Ugandan artist Ssewakiryanga's musical journey with Janzi Band|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/ugandan-artist-ssewakiryanga%E2%80%99s-musical-journey-janzi-band|website=Music in Africa}} professionally known as Ssewa Ssewa,{{cite web|title=About Ssewa Ssewa|url=http://www.janzi.ug/about-ssewa/|website=Janzi Music}} is a Ugandan live performing musician, multi – instrumentalist, founder of Janzi Band and inventor of Janzi, a musical instrument.
Career
Son of a traditional drummer and a dancer, Ssewa Ssewa has never had any professional training. His first instrument was a xylophone, taught by his mother. He started studying business at university, but after being encouraged and taught by members of his father's band, decided to pursue music.{{cite news |work =BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p076rdj3|format=audio|title=Uganda has a new musical instrument |date =18 April 2019 |access-date =18 April 2019}}
Ssewa Ssewa started playing music professionally in 2000. He co-founded Janzi Band{{cite web|title=Ssewakiryanga's musical journey with Janzi Band|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Ssewakiryangas-musical-journey-with-Janzi-Band/691232-2841490-pymb53z/index.html|website=Daily Monitor|access-date=22 August 2015}} along with his friends in 2009 and has been the director since then.
He plays nine instruments, eight of them African, and is a professional percussionist.{{cite web|title=A Look At James Ssewa's Favourite Gadgets|url=http://chano8.com/a-look-at-james-ssewas-favourite-gadgets/|website=Chano 8|access-date=12 September 2015}}
Ssewa Ssewa has frequently performed live. He has performed on many stages both in Uganda and abroad and has worked with many musicians including the Quela Band,{{cite web|title=Qwela live in concert "Rhythm & life"|url=http://www.musicuganda.com/Qwela%20in%20concert.html|website=Music in Uganda}} Navio, A Pass, Isaiah Katumwa, Suzan Kerunen, Mame Ndiak, Giovanni Kiyingi and Hugh Masekela.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} He was one of the main performers at World Music Day in Uganda in June 2017 alongside Apio Moro, Haka Mukiga, Mame Ndiak, Jackie Akello and many others. He performed with Giovanni Kiyingi, a fellow multi-instrumentalist.{{cite web|title=PHOTOS: Fête de la Musique 2017 Closes With Massive Main Concert|url=http://thetowerpost.com/2017/06/26/fete-de-la-musique-2017-closes-with-massive-main-concert/|website=The Tower Post|access-date=26 June 2017}}
In 2024, Ssewa Ssewa performed at the Non-Aligned Movement summit at Serena hotel in Kigo and he entertained the NAM delegates with his cultural music sounds of the Janzi instrument.{{Cite web |title=NAM Summit: First Lady launches campaign to close gender gap |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/NV_179247 |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=New Vision |language=en}}
Awards and nominations
In 2021, Ssewa Ssewa organised the Janzi awards which happened at the Kololo independence grounds on 11 to 12 December 2021 and happened for two days in the same venue.{{Cite web |title=The Janzi Awards Celebrates Contemporary Ugandan Literature |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2022/01/the-2021-janzi-awards-celebrates-contemporary-ugandan-literature/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=brittlepaper.com}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-13 |title=Janzi Awards 2021 in Uganda: All the winners |url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/janzi-awards-2021-uganda-all-winners |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Music In Africa |language=en}} Ssewa Ssewa has been recognised by different music institutions in the United Kingdom. He was nominated in the World Music Awards in the best world and global fusion award category.{{Cite web |title=2023 Nominees |url=https://oneworldmedia.org.uk/awards/2023-nominees/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=One World Media |language=en-US}} Although he did not emerge as a winner, this nomination increased his fame internationally.
Philanthropy
Ssewa Ssewa started a charity organisation called Janzi4Hope aimed at changing lives of vulnerable in Uganda through music activities spear-headed by the Janzi Instrument.{{Cite web |title=Janzi4Hope |url=https://janzi.org/janzi4hope/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Janzi |language=en-US}} In 2022, Ssewa Ssewa and the Janzi Band celebrated the World Autism Day and performed at the Nile village in Jinja district in Eastern Uganda{{Cite web |title=Janzi band to celebrate Autism Day with charity |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/NV_130596 |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=New Vision |language=en}}
Janzi (Instrument)
{{main|Janzi (Musical Instrument)}}
The janzi is a string instrument invented by Ssewa Ssewa. The instrument has been used on all Janzi Band and Ssewa Ssewa's setups since its inception. The janzi is a based on the traditional harp-like Ugandan instrument called the adungu, but the janzi is different in several ways, unique and patented as a separate instrument.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
The name originates from the name of the band.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/ugandan-artist-ssewakiryanga%E2%80%99s-musical-journey-janzi-band|website=Music in Africa|title=Ugandan artist Ssewakiryanga's musical journey with Janzi Band|first=Edgar Raymond |last=Batte|date=7 October 2015|access-date=18 April 2019}}
Discography
Ssewa Ssewa has worked with Janzi Band since its inception and has also worked on his solo projects.
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable"
|+List of studio albums with selected details !Title !Details |
| Down In Uganda{{Cite web |title=Down in Uganda by Ssewa Ssewa (Full Album) |url=https://janzi.org/album/down-in-uganda-by-ssewa-ssewa-full-album/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Janzi |language=en-US}}
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| Janzi2Scales{{Cite web |title=Janzi Music |url=https://janzi.org/music/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Janzi |language=en-US}}
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| Nva K'la{{Cite web |title=NVA K'LA |url=https://propermusic.com/products/ssewassewa-nvakla |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Proper Music |language=en}}
|
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See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://bigmikes.biz/news/dj-vicky-and-live-percussion-by-james-ssewa-janzi-band/ DJ Vicky and Live Percussion by James Ssewa (Janzi Band) » Big Mikes]
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Category:Musicians from Kampala
Category:21st-century Ugandan male singers
Category:Ugandan world music musicians
Category:Ugandan instrumentalists