Tempra Omona

Disaster has refused to seize in the northern part of Uganda. Last week, it reached its peek when LRA (Lords Resistance Army) rebels attacked various parts of Gulu. One of the worst attacks ever was on Wednesday 3rd July 2002, when the rebels plundered the Alero internally displaced camp leaving two people dead. On Friday night they attacked Labongo Ogali displaced camp in Amuru Sub County, looted food, burnt down the camp and abducted civilians.

This being the native home of our Luo humming velvet voiced song bird, Tempra Omona, its not surprising to find that he has been following the events closely from a safe distance in Kampala. He was one of the first people to hear about the tragedies and he called up his area member of parliament Norbert Mao who had also received the information. Tempra had an idea to share.

Tempra's vision was revealed at a press conference held in the parliamentary pressroom. Those in attendance were all the northern MPs: Jacob Oulanyah, Okumu Reagan, Norbert Mao, Michael Ochila, Dan Kidega, Zachary Olum and Santa Okot. Tempra has been one of the few-privileged Ugandan musicians to address a press conference in the parliamentary pressroom. Tempra 's idea is to hold a charity show to raise funds to provide basic needs like food, clothes, covers and shelter for his troubled kinsmen. Tempra does not intend to make even a dime out of this show. All the gate collections and tips that he may receive on that day will be for the benefit of the helpless, suffering and needy refugees.

On Saturday 6th July the songbird joined the MPs and toured the dangerous war-torn areas of Gulu. Some of the camps were insecure and inaccessible. He socialized with the people, saw them wipe their tears and sympathized with especially the children, some of whom were born in the camps and do not know what the outside world looks like. They don't seem to have a future in that situation. After seeing the miserable children, all he could do in the heat of the moment was to buy sweets to put short-lived smiles on the children's faces.

Tempra comes in as a humanitarian who believes he can help and he plans to do anything possible to bring his people and well-wishers together in order to help the poor situation. The theme of the show scheduled for 1st August is " CAN THE ACHOLI HELP FELLOW ACHOLI". He intends to perform with other prominent artists on Thursday 7th August 2002. The show will take place at Sabrina's pub. Entrance fee for all able Ugandans is 5000 Ug shs. 

His main reason for this theme is; when someone is faced with an in-house problem, the first people that you would call upon are your own, your family, your parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, before you call upon your neighbors and well wishers. Every body is welcome to the show, which is all encompassing.  There will be special candle lighting to show unity. There will be giant candles at the sides of stage. Every body will be given a special candle as they come in. in African culture, light or fire was a sign of coming together and unity. The Acholis call it "wang oo"

Tempra will also be launching two songs, which he was inspired to write while he visiting the camps in the north. One is his own appeal, a remix of his own song 'Wagamu kuc' meaning 'let's call for peace'. The other is 'Jowa' meaning 'Our people'. The lyrics were derived from the suffering voices and pleas Tempra heard from the camps. The lyrics will only comprise translations of the people's own cries.

Special guests will be all the notable elite, businessmen, leaders and other personalities from the Acholi land, officials from government and NGOs like UNHCR, Uganda Red Cross, ICRC, GUSCO, UNICEF, WFP etc, who will be given special entry invitation cards and will hopefully contribute to this cause.

Tempra would like to emphasize that "HIS MOTIVES RELATED TO THE SHOW AND THE REFUGEES ARE STRICTLY HUMANITARIAMN AND NOT IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATED WITH POLITICAL AND FINACIAL GAINS

we promised, we have delivered an exclusive on Tempra' s show in Arua over the weekend. He left Kampala on Thursday the 16 of May with the Nubian Squad ' n 'Spice. They had shows from Friday to Sunday at Hotel Annex where they were staying. Every show seemed to attract more people than the one before. At one point the organisers were convinced that the crowds kept coming back for more. Sources other than Tempra say that the act was sensational something that had never been done before on any Arua stage.  Tempra wasn't the only one shinning the Nubian squad were equally on a flame. Owing to public demand the crew is going back on a northern tour ASAP. The promoters remain the same Mambo Entertainment and a new entrant Ribbons Ltd."

Their tour is going to take them to Paidah, Pakwach and Apach. It will be called "WEST NILE 2002 TOUR". Tentatively it starts on the 7th 8th and 9th of June and from then on he will be on the road for the rest of the year giving it to all his fans out there like they want it. So brace yourself, He is coming to a stage near you!

Right now Tempra is basically looking at home where the music belongs but that doesn't mean that he has forgotten the rest of his fans. In his plans for the future, he is going to continue releasing singles until the end of the year and by then he will have hit you with an entire album. The guy is just mellow.

Yes he is going to be doing his gigs with the Nubian Squad ' n ' Spice and they start in Gulu and Lira. Last weeks tour got them all excited and greased up so beware. To all the fans out there, Tempra says thank you for every thing and he won't stop giving it to you until he dies. Then his music will go on.  From musicuganda.com watch this space for more on TEMPRA n THE NUBIAN SQUAD ' n ' SPICE.

The brother doesn't know where to stop! Can some body please pick up a ruler and draw a line for this guy. Music Uganda has listened to Tempra's Jjajja (mama) song and Angellah, believe me they are bumping his Nen awene remix is going to become a play in every discotheque that is worth going to Tempra has promised to give his first CD to Music Uganda before it graces stores shelves and radio stations late next week. By mid next week you can get a sneak listen of his new releases on website.

Tempra's " one time " which initially didn't get enough air play off his first album also features on his second album as number 9 and is increasingly becoming a famous request in karoke bars and discotheques. It's an inspirational song which Tempra wrote basin on a situation that he was in a the time. It has a very moving theme and rhythm. It's not a zouk song, it's more of a slow swing, R Kelly style. Tempra write all his songs personally and they are all about his new life day to day experiences, may be that's why he greatly appeals to Ugandan audiences.

Next weekend Tempra is going to tour West Nile with the Nubian Squad and Nubian spice. They are going to stage three shows and they are being organised by a west based company called Mambo entertainment. Mambo entertainment did not pick on Tempra by mistake he was called upon due to public demand from the locals themselves. Tempra is a real hit in northern Uganda but that doesn't mean that the rest of the country doesn't want him. The eagle-eyed brother still has mind on that Kora Award. Occasional band playaz and they want to hire their own place, play live jams so that he can really show you where the talent ties watch this space.

He has been composing since the age of ten and was greatly inspired by Bobby Brown as a boy and later by R Kelly. Tempra always thought that he was going to make R'n'B hits but suprisingly when he got down to the crunch, the velvet voiced song bird does a smooth zouk swing that melts the hardest of hearts away.

Tempra against all odds does his music in luo and even all those who don't understand it are caught by his spell. He is struggling to make a point that good local music does not always have to be in luganda and believe me, his made his point. His music is played all over Uganda and his "nene awenne"track is played in discotheques in the United States of America as next door in Kenya. Tempra is the most recognised luo singer of our time.

What plans does he have? Tempra is about to release 2 new hit singles as well as a nene awene remix by KD. Watch this space for more about the launch. About the two songs, he has "Angellah." Which is basically about a girl in real life whose name is not Angellah. He really wants to get with her and she and she likes him too but she thinks that because he is a star he has many girls around which is not true,"hey ladies he is only for her."

The second song is a tribute to his grand mama who brought her up and although he has not yet made it big to give her all that she deserves, he has her in mind and he will do her proud. Tempra intends to use the money he gets from the singles to make videos for his songs and also to provide for his grand mother. The song is called "mama". To his fans watch out for his launch he is going to hit you like never before. He is also planning a tour to different parts of Kenya. It is organised by Kanda Kids promoter. Kanda kid is a Kenyan professional dancer. Tempra has his heart on scooping a kora award for Uganda this time round.

Ugandan music is taking a very new and exciting trend with the increase in number of very creative and young artists. Tempra Omona at only 24 has finally managed to discover the track-selling recipe, which has seen his new release ‘Nen Awene’ sell hundreds of copies most especially in northern Uganda where many people speak the Luo language.

According to Tempra, the tittle ‘Nen awene’ means ‘when will I see you again?’ He says he wrote this song for the Ugandans who may be far away from home, probably overseas and he as their brother is trying to tell them that their mother misses them and needs them back home.

Tempra is very close to his family, which has watched his music growing from strength to strength. He grew up with his grand mother and she was probably his main inspiration for writing his music in Luo. Initially, the music he made was in Luo with modern instrumentation similar to the kind Americans use and his first album didn’t sell. Now that he has found African beats and tunes to sing his music to, he seems very satisfied with the way things have turned out because more Ugandans can relate to his style.

It costs Tempra more than one million shillings to record his album. He had to befriend the owners of the studios in order to get a discount and he is very grateful to his auntie for helping him pay for most of the work he has recorded. His relatives from abroad have also been very helpful. There are so many people behind the scenes who have helped him make his dream a reality.

What Tempra does is for the love of music and many times doesn’t get paid when he sings. You can always catch him at all the Karaoke places in Kampala that is Sabrina’s Pub on Bombo road or DV8 behind the famous Cineplex Cinema. It is hard to miss him with his trademark Afro-puff hairstyle during the week and his plaited hair during the weekend.

He recently released a new video, ‘One time’ on the big network, Uganda Television where and has also appeared on WBS TV’s late show with Straka Mwezi.

Click here read about Tempra Omona in US