Playlist 2 - Kenneth

Tuwebiyungu by Abdul Mulaasi
Now of course my playlist would not be complete without some music directly from Uganda. This particular song was popular around 2007 because of how controversial the message it suggests is. There is no direct translation for the title but it roughly suggests that each wife should have her own residence. Polygamy is of course outlawed but deemed acceptable among Muslims since the Koran allows a man to have as many wives he can support. Abdul Mulaasi is a Muslim and is definitely wealthy enough to have multiple wives but the scenario described in the song is complete fiction.
The song follows the long tradition of telling some story through one’s music not necessarily by the melody since that’s rather modern but mainly through the words. The speech pattern follows a dialect used specifically for storytelling and in danger of being lost since the majority of the young people cannot use it. What especially drew me to this song is the combination of old traditions and western musical influences. This is what contemporary Ugandans listen to.

Njagala Nyimbire Omutanda by Mesach Semakula & Abakyla na Abami by Annet Nandujja
Both these selections are examples of traditional music from Buganda, which is one of many tribes from the Bantu people. Even though I do listen to such music on a daily basis, it is still a part of my identity. These songs are usually performed at celebrations such as awards ceremonies and weddings. “Abakyala na Abami” is specifically for wedding receptions. The song’s lyrics are a commentary on married life and how a young couple can be sure that their marriage will last. The song advises that the wife to be obedient and take good care of her new husband while reminding men to always remain dedicated to his wife and avoiding the snares set by prostitutes. “Njagala Nyimbire Omutanda” is sung only for the king at official ceremonies or upon his arrival for a royal visit to a certain village. The lyrics from this song comment about the royal bloodline and about the pride associated with being a Muganda and the honor of surviving the king. There is so much pride infused in the lyrics about being part of the “tribe” to the extent that the lyrics comment about all 52 clans found within the tribe.
Another part of these traditional pieces that is important to note is the traditional dance that accompanies the song. For instrumentation, there are variations of drums used and sometimes a wind instrument similar to a flute. The dance is the same in both songs and the style is called “kiganda” which translates to dance of the Baganda people. The dance is performed by either an all female troupe or a mixed troupe. It is considered an honor to be able to wear the accompanying costumes and perform this dance. I too have danced the kiganda dance so such footage brings back old memories.

Rompe by Daddy Yankee
Yes, I listen to reggaeton and I like it. At Shakori music festival, I had the chance of listening to a Latin band called Locos por Juana and after that performance; I started searching for similar music. Daddy Yankee is a Latin Grammy award winning Puerto Rican reggaeton, Latin rap, and hip hop artist. To be honest, the meaning behind the lyrics escapes since I do not speak the language but I understand that it is a dance athem song.
My interest with reggaeton is bizarre considering the fact that I have no clue what the artist is saying. The melodies and beats however I can connect with because they are similar to those from Africa. In fact, reggaeton has numerous influences from dancehall music in the US to Jamaican music. I would not be surprised to find some African influences there as well. Despite not knowing the language, I listen to reggaeton artists such Daddy Yankee and Wisin & Yandel because their music (reggaeton) is the closest genre in terms of feel to music from Uganda.

On to the next one by Jay-Z

“On to the next one” is a new single by Jay-Z off of his most recent Album the Blueprint 3. What first drew me to this song was the music video because I found it visually appealing. However, upon farther scrutiny of the lyrics, I found that the message behind those clever words is also important. Jay-Z raps about his ambition and how the world should be in essence afraid of what he is doing next. Perhaps it makes him seem like an egotistical fool, but Jay-Z’s approach to his music justifies his message. Consider that he has outgrown the ghetto and rap songs about how hard life is and is now on an influential level where he has all these resources available to him. Therefore, the audience should be on the lookout for what his “gonna do next” because it ought to be impressive as the song suggests.

This idea that he has so much potential is inspiring especially to the disadvantages in America’s ghettos. Therefore, I think young people in tough situations can relate to that bit of the song. Jay-Z furthers his message of having ambition by portraying himself as an example of what ambition can lead to. He sings about his wealth saying he “came in a Range, hopped out of a Lexus.” Range Rovers, Lexus and Jaguar (featured in the music video) are all top-notch luxury auto-manufacturers with wealthy clientele. He later discusses his influence by mentioning how well he knows Oprah and how he can contact Obama via text-message. Now of course some of these claims are a bit exaggerated but the message of empowerment is still crucial.