KASULE UGANDA'S GEM TO THE WORLD.
Musically, Uganda is dwarfed by her East African counterpart Tanzania who are the region's champions, having produced hundreds of band's that excelled in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. However, even at that point of disadvantage, the country has managed to produce world class superstars, among them on Sammy Kasule.
Kasule who was Uganda's biggest musical export to the world, at first to Nairobi and latter to Sweden, died on 28th April 2021 in Amsterdam Netherlands. He had had fallen sick and was travelling abroad to Sweden to seek treatment but when the plane stopped in Amsterdam, it was assessed that his condition had deteriorated, thus the need to seek medication in Netherlands, and that's where he died a few days latter.
Kasule Sammy, a gifted bassist, who played a unique six stringed bass guitar was also a prolific composer and vocalist, who made a name in Nairobi in the golden era, when Nairobi had a very vibrant music industry that attracted musicians throughout the region and had global audience.
Born in Uganda in 1952, Kasule improvised his guitar at age ten, with Congolese musicians of the 1960s being his inspirations. By then he was still a primary school student at Kibuli Primary School. His mother, (who died six years ago) wasn't amused. She destroyed the instrument but that didn't kill the bubbling music ambitions in young Kasule.
He joined secondary school and latter on attended Light College Katikamu, both in Kampala. He debuted in music in 1969, when he joined a local band, Kawumba Band, which played in bar called New Life. He stayed with the band for three years.
With political instability in Uganda, young Kasule shifted base to Kenya, where he joined Congolese music outfit based in Nairobi, called Le Noir headed by war veteran Chuza Kabaselle, in 1973. He stayed with the band until 1977 when he quit and joined another Congolese band Special Liwanza.
He composed several hit songs in this era, among them maria wandaka, kitoobero, shauri yako (English version) among many more. The music industry in Nairobi was by ten very fluid and he played with vet many bands, as a member and as a guest musician. Among the most notable was LUNNA Kidi of Ochieng Kabaselle where he played bass in the song "Milicento" where Frantal Tabou plays solo.
In 1984, alongside Frantal Tabou, they created their own Orchestra Vundumuna. Kasule travelled to Japan in a musical sojourn in the late 1980s, before finally settling in Sweden where he established his music home that lasted at least three decades, playing with his own band Makonde, which specialized in both Congolese rumba and Afro-Cuban songs.
Two years ago before his death,he relocated back home to Kampala, where he was still actively involved in music and even had a new album (I am not sure it has been completed).
Kasule, a citizen of the world is probbaly more known in Kenya than Uganda. His former colleague, Frantal Tabou, mourned his death, describing him as a talented and dedicated musician. He left behind a widow, Mary Wandaka, and two sons. Maria was the subject of his song, by the same title.Jarome Ogola
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