Ngoni

BY Music Uganda reporter

Friendship was initiated with a firm handshake smile and a brief introduction. This was when PA-2 stepped into our musicuganda office to break the good news that a new album was out. He is part of a new Ugandan Hip-hop/RnB duo called NGONI. The second member of the group is Aydee who is also a Ugandan producer and 'Goodenuff entertainment' proprietor based in the UK. He is a qualified sound engineer and is very swift with keyboards, synthesizers and Boards of production, in other words he's got skills!!!

The title of their new album is "Be Mine" named after one of their lead tracks. Both PA-2 and Aydee produce this album. Some of the work on this was done in Kampala at BK Studios. They have been closely collaborating with producers like Joe Tabula who recorded the vocals for one of their tracks (Love 2 Party), Steve Jean who gave them advice as they did the project, Andrew Kiwanuka (produced Bobi Wine's "Kagoma"), Robert Segawa and others.

One of the tracks, which caught my ear, was "Love 2 party" which features Lyrical G of Urban Life and formally of Bataka Underground. Lyrical does a firm rap intro for the track, which gives it a lot of momentum. This is favorable for a dancehall atmosphere

This album also features a catchy Zouk track called 'Angenoir'. You just have to listen to this one! It has very natural lyrics.

Nuff said! Let me just re-type for you the shout-outs on their CD cover and give you a link to their website. Here they are

Good News! The 'Banacity' video by Ngoni is has just come off the production line a Deddac Media (YesThatsUs). Aydee of Ngoni touched down from the UK on 14th Jan 2004 to prepare for a video shoot for one of their new songs titled 'Banacity'. Preparations had already been initialized by PA-2 who had been in town conceptualizing and planning the scenes with the management of Deddac media, the guys who have done videos for Klear Kut, Benon & Vamposs, Bebe Cool and many others.

The video production crew of Deddac Media contacted musicuganda and informed us that all post-video-shoot-work in the Deddac labs is done and the video is scheduled to be launched on WBS TV and Channel 5/EATV in the near future. Also in the video were Cyrus (the virus) and Viboyo of DCT and DJ Bobby of Club silk.

Since the video has been released between August last year and July this year, Ngoni are legible for a PAM Awards nomination, depending on how the masses receive the new project - Good Luck!

Ngoni (Ay-Dee and PA-2) have come through with another hot single titled 'Rose'. The UK based Hip-hop/RnB duo have sent the new track through their agent Kevin Zziwa (of Kezzi entertainment) down to Kampala and the music has been distributed to Capital FM, Sanyu FM, CBS and Radio Simba.

According to Kevin, the group plan to release videos for 'Rose' and their follow-up track 'Sekiliba kyataka' by mid February. There are also plans to relocate their ultra modern "2-good" studio to Kampala since the music industry in Uganda/East Africa has become more rewarding and exciting.

The style used in 'Rose' is a fusion which has hints of Ragga, RnB and contemporary Ugandan flavors. Listening to the music, you can hear westside-like 'whistles' (the kind used by Adina Howard in 'Freak like me' and in Snoop Dogg's 'Doggy Dogg world') and a talk-box chorus and verse. 'Rose' also features Rude Boy Devo and Jamaican artists based in the UK.

Kevin adds that "fusion is the way forward for contemporary music because the world has many cultures of musical people who can appreciate good stuff when they hear it"

Goodenuff productions, which is being run by the group is also setting up a new website and the duo have big plans for Uganda's music industry most especially next year. Considering the number of new projects and labels in town, Kampala next year shall not be the same.

Up-close with Ngoni.

Recently just dropped the video of the song “Biguula” and have also released a new song “Mimi na wewe” featuring AY.  Our snoops were able to get hold of the two musical warriors as their name suggests and this is what they have to say.

1 on 1 with Goodenuff's Ngoni - By Peter Kigonya & Julie Erusa

When one genuinely loves, and is excited about what they are doing they can go on forever talking about what they do. I am sure that if you ask Julie about musicuganda.com she will talk your ears off the same way I would about UGPulse.com. So I usually have to cut myself off because usually no one is interested.

Ngoni Unplugged – By Julie Erusa

To many it’s just another unplugged yet to some it’s just a chance to see what more our artists can offer, something different away from the tracks and the CD performances.  This time round we had the Ngoni – who refer to themselves as musical warriors. Here we got see the vocal qualities and the different musical talents of both these gentlemen

Ngoni speak out from Dar by Julie Erusa

They performed with Koffi Olomidde in Mwanza last Friday and Sunday, alongside D.N.A and many Tanzanian artistes including T.I.D, Wanaume, ChidiBenz, Q-Chief, etc.  The crowds was so massive for both shows, and Koffi invited them back on stage and he sang Digi with them, and they
backed him up to sing 'Senga'.