Rachael Magoola
Rachael Magoola, a Ugandan singer now based in the UK, formerly a member of The Afrigo Band is set to perform with Claude Deppa, a celebrated South African trumpeter at The Queen Elizabeth Hall, on March 10th, 2005. She is going to be a guest performer in a musical collaboration of 'African Divas' led by Deppa. During an interview on the BBC's Outlook show earlier today, she talked briefly about her Afrigo background and she and Deppa performed a rendition of Deppa's song, 'Don't worry, panic' which is off his new Toi Toi album.
She made an exquisite vocal performance of the song, which was originally all-instrumental in the BBC studios. When the host asked her what language she had written her lyrics, she said it was in Lusoga, a language from south eastern Uganda. Deppa then explained that Rachel really twist her tongue to adjust her Lusoga lyrics to suit his South African melody, which she did very ably. It was her Lusoga lyrics in the the Afrigo hit 'Obangaina' that shot her to fame and her ability to write good music in her native language cannot be undermined. The performance was described as a collaboration between East and South Africa.
About Rachel
She is a charming lady with a wealth of experience. She is also gifted with different skills like song writing, dancing; dance choreography and God know she sings beautifully.
From 1989 to Jan 2001 she, worked as a music teacher in Kaliro Primary Teacher's College. While at Kaliro she was the patroness of the Music Club. She formulated the syllabi and schedules for the college. The College choir under her patronage on several occasions represented the Busoga region at the National Primary Teachers College Music Festivals. She also arranged many other musical activities both intra and inter college
With in the same period, Rachel worked as a co lead singer for 'Afrigo Band'. With the Band, she worked professionally and produced smash hits that rocked the charts nation-wide. Two of her best-known hits are obagaina and inhaife. Obaingaina was the the nunber one song on Capital Radio's coca cola hot seven daily countdown for thirty consecutive days which was a record for Ugandan FM stations. It was also voted Song of the Millennium on the millennium countdown. The video tape 'inhaife' has been extensively played on UTV WBS CTV and other TV stations.
In Rachel's words:
"I wrote songs and contributed in the instrumentation and arrangement of the music, I acted as the bands choreographer and I also participated in media related activities of the band"
From February 2001 to date, she has been a managing director of a band named after her, 'RACHEAL MAGOOLA' she is now a successful artiste in her own right producing solo albums; Inhaife, Tyenda wundi and Tonyiiga.
These albums have earned her much respects both amongst fellow artists and the Ugandan audience hence her decision to go solo. Her band was launched on the 2nd of November 2001.
RESPONSIBILITIES
· She holds meetings with sponsors and prospective sponsors.
· She coordinates rehearsals.
· Organizes, monitors and directs the activities of the nine member group.
· Arranges schedules.
· Makes bookings for possible performance venues.
· She coordinates all the PR activities.
ADDITIONAL FREELANCE ACTIVITIES
She has been a guest on radio talk shows like Kampala's top 20 and the morning crew shows on capital radio as well as being a guest on Capital radio's 'Desert Island Disc' Programme. Other radio appearances have been on radio Simba's count down Africa (On which Obaingana was voted No.1) Radio Sanyu, Africa FM and Star FM's 'Munakatemba'.
She hosted the Raheal Magoola Show, a programme focusing on music and the arts.
She featured numerous times in local newspapers. In a new vision pole, she was voted one of the 100 most influential women for 1998- 1999. In 2002 she was voted one of the top 10 women of 2001 by Uganda's leading local paper, 'Bukedde'.
Rachel performed both locally and internationally in places like The
US and the and The UK
Ms Magoola launched her third album, Tonyiiga in November 2001, which she has been working on over the past few months. Her music has been received well by the Ugandan audience most especially the track 'Vooto'.
As a person, Rachel has been and promises to be continually involved in several health, education and development campaigns. Expressing the themes through her music, she wrote and performed the song 'Take me as I am'. for the sickle cell association of Uganda. It's launch was meant to raise awareness on the Sickle Cells Disease.
Check out her personal website
Rachel Magoola set for San Fransisco by Julie Erusa
Rachel Magoola best describes as “A what you see is what you get” so don’t expect anything more from what you see in front of you.
|
