Kidandali Music of Uganda

Kidandali is a music genre that recently is arguably seen as most renowned genre of music in Uganda. Though, the word kidandali is not universally aligned as the name of this genre with some indigenous details preferring instead to use the very simplistic word such as Band Music while others like the word Afrobeat even though the music shares no differences with Afrobeat. The origins of the genre can be traced from the ensembles that sprung up after the country got their independence in the year 1962. The Cranes Ensemble, which later formed the Afrigo Ensemble, can be known as the initial orchestra in the development process of this genre. At the beginning, their music was hugely influenced by Soukous and Congolese musicians like Franco were popular influences at that period. Jazz was also a popular influence. Along the line there were other ensembles such as Big Five Band, Simba Ngoma Band and Rwenzori Band. But Afrigo Ensemble was the very popular and most enduring, particularly throughout the political unrest of the 70s to 90s. During the mid-90s, Afringo ensembles were still hugely influenced by Soukois music, which by then was led all over the African continent. Musicians such as Rachael Magoola and Joanita Kawalya were part of the Afrigo Ensemble and assisted lay the foundation for the current day Kidandali, among other ensembles like Kaada Ensemble. The breakthrough, though, came with the creation of the record label known as Eagles Production which was responsible for producing musicians such as Haruna Mubiru, Ronald Mayinja, Mesach Semakula and Geoffrey Lutaaya. These musicians took the responsibility from Afrigo Ensemble and further established the genre after the turn of the century. In the 2000s, the genre became known with the Eagles Production label, the label remained to produce more talents, particularly female musicians such as Irene Namatovu, Stacia Mayanja and Cathy Kusasira. Another breakthrough was in the year 2007 when Davids Lutalo brok through with the hit song known as Kapapla making the way for the genre to move ahead of the Eagle Production label and for other solo musicians to incorporate the fray. During in the same time, technology in audio production had enabled the genre to be reproduced digitally using audio workstations and the ensemble rudiment had all but disappeared. Recording studios like Kann, Dream Studios, Mozart and Paddyman took the stage. Many of other independent solo musicians began to learn the genre. Musicians like Dr. Tee, Chameleone and Angume Martin attained achievement with this genre. The genre is recently at the top of its development with the latest musicians like Papa Cidy and Chris Evans assisting a dominant forces that, alongside with the dancehall which is the most renowned stylistic genre in the country.

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