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Jimmy Woira
Being a new entrant, it fetched me a lot of beating from Mr. Kisaane (R.I.P). Then came Rachael Magoola who used to ride from Namasagali College. Unlike Mr. Kisaane, Rachael was rather kind but very assertive that we never left any piece without making sense out of it. That year we were the best at the preliminaries and it pushed us up to the regional level, which was an achievement for me a new venture. Since then, I personally picked a unique interest that I worked not to please my friend and teachers but also to build music, a future career. I did well until when my father learnt of it. He feared for my so-called ‘Academic Work’ as if Music was not at all academic and like that, I had a hard time convincing him that I worked just as well in the rest. Sensing the kind of insecurity, I realized myself dodging Namasagali College where all my brothers and sisters studied because father also worked there as a Soccer Coach. I fought and joined St. Balikuddembe Secondary School, Mitala Maria and no sooner had they recruited me into their school choir and I had my first trip, my first two months in Secondary School. For three days out, we feared and sang and I learnt new ideas during that time. From 1991 when I joined St. Balikuddembe till 1996, I participated in the recording of Music on Cassette, normally done in Radio Uganda Studios. We recorded ‘Talanta Vol. I- Vol.V and I gained all the interest and skill that whenever it was holiday time, the school could not afford missing me because that’s when I was most needed in the National Theatre. In that school choir, I was exposed to new friends and opportunities. I was Treasurer from 1993-95, we frequently visited State House to sing for the President, and we performed at all the important National and International functions because we had become a National Issue in Music. I performed at the Coronation of a number of Kings when Kingdom ship was restored in Uganda in 1993. I sung for Nelson Mandela when he visited Uganda, we were introduced to Ambassadors and N.G.O(s) that were popular then. But the higher we shot, the more opposition I got from home and friends. I have been in this Art most of my School-time but not many people appreciate Artistes. Even the elite cannot support Music and that is why they call us mad and only noisemakers. But it keeps my mind and body healthy and that persecution encouraged me instead to work harder, because, other than the School Choir, then led by Paul Ssaaka who also loved to promote me, we had a group of about six little students who traveled and sang along The Main Choir, Composing and our own little Music. With one Keyboard Piano, we played all the would be full band instruments and sung the rest. In that small group, there has sprouted young vigilant artistes like Nathan Bwerenga of Diamonds Productions, Sylvia Namagga, now in the U.S, many youths in Gospel Music, like me and Edgar Mukulu, and many others on Radio and Television, nationality.
We were supposed to be paid but up to now, the cheque has not
yet matured. This problem has led to a lot of frustration where
by the youths in the Art are highly exploited all because they
cannot afford a few managements by themselves. All in all while
with Jimmy Katumba, I was allowed to curtain raise. Singing my
own Music before I retired to backup my boss. This show wandered
around Kampala City and other theatres elsewhere. The last one
collapsed in Former Terrace View Theatre Bwaise. After such
unpleasant moments, I decided to join Makerere University,
studied Drama at the Music, Dance and Drama Department. I wanted
to grow up and become a professional artiste, never to be used
again! While there, I improved more and more in Music
performance and as a poet, in song and script writing, I have
writer and acted in Television Dramas going round the country
health educating the masses. I have published a number of poems
East African Theatre Institute- E.A.T.I –UNC
I cannot attempt a prophetic view of the future Ugandan Music but let the Artistes’ work to promote the Art though working to track quick money. I faced a number of rich people, friends and relatives to sponsor my recording but everyone asked how he was to gain. I parted with begging as well and slowly but faithfully, I recorded my songs, self-sponsored, one by one until a full album, which I will sell only at my own free will any time. Sometimes you may not need that particular helping hand you are looking at. May be you only need to look at your own hand and dream. Also we need our Ugandan Music to fetch us a living just like in UK, America and elsewhere but what about the copyright Law in Uganda? May God whoever is responsible.
jwoira@yahoo.com |
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The
year was 1990 at Namasagali Primary School, I had never been a
musician apart from the few comic moments at home, when with my
elder brothers: Aaron and Bob, we could imagine and mime to play
any traditional musical instruments with our mouths and danced
round whenever my brothers and sisters recalled and joked about
what they had seen during primary schools’ Music Festivals. I
picked a keen interest in music but not to do it myself because
I was very shy and of course ignorant of who I was and what I
had in me, for a talent. That year in school, a friend tricked
me into the School Choir and I was taught to pay at the
xylophone, it took me sometime to master the interest to please
my friend who did not wish to miss me in the festival which
eliminated at the National Theatre, Kampala every Festive Year.
I
normally represented my class whenever these inter-class Music
Competitions. This was every Saturday night according to the
School Entertainment Dept. This also helped me to develop my
performance skill and from there, I was picked by Jimmy Katumba
in 1997, who trained me as a backup vocalist. I attributed my
performance and onstage confidence to Jimmy Katumba because
while with him, I learnt to improvise; Males taught to sing
female voices and now I make my own backups in studio. It was
all fun until one day when after intensive performing for
BUKADEF: both at Nakivubo Stadium and Entebbe Resort Beach then,
with guest artist, Madilu from Congo. 
While
at Makerere University, I joined Jesus Christ and in Salvation I
have recorded my first Album: WAITING IN FAITH with songs like:
He’s a winner, Don’t turn away, My Hero, A new Song, My Destiny
and Wonderful Word, which play mainly on Christian Radio
Stations. 