My Present-day playlist

Loving it

•  Kyokoba – Maro ft GNL
• Equation – Desire
• Anjagala - Iryn
• Woman - Juliana
• Pomini - Ziza Bafana 
• Guluma nasomye - Ziza Bafana
• Kigwa Leero - HE Bobi ft Nubian 
• Love you everyday - Bebe Cool
• Friendly match - Zanie ft Ziza 
• Gundeeze - King Saha
• Tetubatya - Apass
•  Nva Kampala - Apass
• Bakuwe kyonywa - Nutty Neithan

......the list is endless.

I’ve always been partial to western music; particularly Old-school; hence my typical playlist comprised the likes of Dr.Dre, Mclyte, Naughty by Nature, Luniz, Outkast, Tupac, Arrested Development, et al.

It was habitual for me to listen to these jams recurrently regardless of my frame of mind, activity or place i.e. whether euphoric, downcast; at home, office; jogging, driving or going on about my chores, my stereo was always blazing with hits such as you could be my boo, 5 o’clock, 5 on it, Keep on keeping on, Jamboree, Everyday people, et al. 

Never had I taken notice of any other genre of music in spite of the countless times a supposedly fine contemporary record has been commended. I’ve been such a stick in the mud owing to the fact that old-school always sorted my music needs. 

However, I recently honed in on and was bowled over by my native music; songs until a week ago, I only heard by fortuity; at night spots, functions and chiefly from our Sentinel’s phone selection. He has this kind of music playing throughout the night while on guard. Consequently, being an insomniac, it is commonplace that I get to listen in.

It’s no wonder that while at K Palm Resort Island over the weekend, I grooved to Nkoleki by Dr. Jose Chameleon and Melody; a move that left my friends awed because for one, they had never seen me dance; ever. I am overly timid and usually a head bob is all I can afford regardless of how much I “feel the beats". What's more, they are well aware of my “old-schoolmania”. Hence boogieing to a local sound was a bolt from the blue. 

*Oh, to go off on a tangent a little, I had imbibed a bottle and half of Smirnoff Red ice; comprehensible, right? Considering I’ve been a teetotaler for the most part of my youth*

Reverting to the crux of this piece, I got to download over 50 HiPipo tracks; Ugandan songs that have made it big; leastways as claimed by the aforementioned awards and I must confess, we have some really great talent in the Pearl of Africa. 

The ladies; Iryn, Juliana, Irene Ntale, Rema, Desire, Naira Ali, Naava Grey and guys; Maro, Maurice Kirya, et al make for an impressive listen. It goes without saying that these are great vocalists and their melodies enkindle warm fuzzies. 

Our hip hop and rap referred to as Uga flow is amazing too. I can’t get enough of MUN-G, GNL, Apass, Lyrical G and Navio. These guys are awesome lyricists. 

The dance hall artists, viz., King Saha, Ziza Bafana, Sheeba and Cindy among others have had me try out rib-tickling dance moves; so funny that I only dare to bid in my sanctuary; my abode, in front of my mirror. Such a sight to behold! 

This has doubled as some kind of workout for whenever I’m not up to jogging and skipping as recommended by my Doctor. I merely have to put this playlist on replay and weird-dance my sorrows and aches away. 

A colleague tried to throw cold water on my recent inclination saying “Ugandan music has no novelty; our hip hop has gone to the dogs and artists are in it for the money”.

Well, I am no critic; merely an “if it’s groovy, it rocks” kind of girl and hence loving my roots’ playlist thus far; so much so that my vintage collection is currently tucked away.

Nonetheless, old-school will always be my first and authentic love. When it’s all said and done, the first cut is the deepest, they say.