Rita Sabiiti

She is a producer, a songwriter, she sings mellow and she is so good at what she does that she teaches music at The Kampala Music School. Everyone in the guitar circles knows that no one strums those things like she does!
You remember the new crew, URBAN LIFE (Formally URBAN THUGZ)? She did the acoustic guitar and sang the hook for their Debut track, 'Nothing Compares'
Is she Hip-hop? No she aint! She is everything and somehow, everything she touches turns to gold.
She made a track for all children facing hardship, especially those in Africa. The title of this is 'Education is Key' It has featured on many radio stations in and around Kampala and Uganda and made it to countdown shows like "The Coca Cola hot seven at seven" on Capital FM. It is very smooth, mellow and inspirational with an up-tempo beat

She started an organisation called Melodies for peace and you can read about it below.
Melodies for peace

Inspiration through Music.” Melodies for peace is an initiative of a small group of creative Ugandan composers to spread the word of peace and unity through song and to promote positive music in general. Their aim is to promote a culture of peace and unity among individuals, organisations and the community at large through song.

  Activities

Composing and performing campaign theme songs for conferences and workshops.
Popularizing and supporting local youth composers

Composing TV and Radio jingles

Participating in regional and international talent shows, music festivals, workshops and conferences.

Projects already done

In 1997, they composed a campaign theme song for UNICEF on children’s rights
In 1999, they composed another campaign theme song for UNIFEM on women’s rights
They have worked hand in hand with local NGO’s like Akina Mama Wa Africa where they composed an awareness song on women strength
They have worked with WBS television, a local television station where they composed television fillers.
Future Plans
Finding a base/secretariat for the organization
Equipping the organization with musical equipment and information technology
Networking with individuals with more or less the same objectives

INTERVIEV WITH RITA SABITI
By Buuba

Rita: I started when I was ten years old although I was acquainted with music before that. My Mom started me out on music when she noticed I was musical. I could sing some songs quite a number of them word by word.

When I was twelve, mom bought me a guitar and so I started learning to play. I was so excited then. I would imitate musicians on TV, look for the chords in their songs until I find them on my guitar and play their tunes effortlessly. I would then get books on how to play guitars and that's how I slowly picked up in the art.

I joined Makerere College School in '90 however they could not accept the guitar, as it was not a classical instrument. So I picked up the flute instead. But that did not discourage me, I continued to seek out places and occasions where I play my stuff. I used to miss school sometimes and go to Sharing Youth Hall in Nsambya and practice with the Blood Brothers.

Then in '93 I started a musical course by correspondence called the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, an international course based in the UK By then in Uganda it was found at Lincoln International School at Kitante. With yearly exams I completed in '96. A year later I joined Makerere University where I did a degree in Education majoring in music and I completed last year (2001).

QN: In the course of all this, you have had the opportunity of working with many artists and groups. Could you mention a few of them…?

Rita: I've worked with Hope Mukasa, Chain Thought Reaxion, Kaweesa, Steve Jean, Blood Brothers, Urban Life, Afrigo Band and others I can't remember right now.

QN: Among these musicians, whom did you enjoy working with most?

Rita: Oh, man! I've enjoyed working with Simba Sounds, those guys are so professional. They are the professional's dream. Then there's Chain Thought Reaxion. Now these guys have an ocean of talent, size and depth. They are very good.

QN: What are the best and worst moments of your career?

Rita: Well, Well. The worst moment was an occasion in '99 when I was performing for an N.G.O. at the City Square. Publicity stuff, twenty minutes before the start, it started to rain and damaged all the machines! Fortunately Hope Mukasa supplemented with his own machines but that was two hours later. The best moment was when I was performing with Joanita Kawalya of Afrigo Band.

QN: So what are you doing presently?

Rita: I teach here in Kampala Music school, part time. I joined last year around May.

QN: How's your daily timetable?

Rita: Oh it's very hectic! Students are taught on an individual basis and they are of different age groups and levels in the course and at the end of the day I'm very exhausted. My day starts at nine in the morning and each student is taught for one and a-half-hours until the next appointment.

QN: And when you are not teaching…

Rita: I run a Music label, Melodies for Peace so I compose songs for artists and organisations like Akina Mama, UNICEF, UNIFEM in the promotion of peace through processes like conflict resolution in different areas of life domestic, regional, social etc.

QN: What is your view of the music scene in Uganda?

Rita: The problem with the situation here is that a lot of musicians here are not original. Those that are, are simply not promoted. There is a tendency of the audience to pay attention to those who sound western. Those who are not are simply discarded. But the good thing is that once you have a good song it can at least last for some time.

QN: And finally what is your projection of Uganda's musical scene in future?

Rita: It's very promising now than ever was. In five years it's going to progress faster than the last ten years mostly in production and quality of artists. Though distribution and copyright should be worked on very seriously.

Contact Ritah

Melodies for peace
P.O.Box 5211
Kampala
Uganda
TEL: 077 445328