Julie Sessanga offers Mbarara artistes sage music advice

Veteran Ugandan chanteuse Julie Sessanga offered her sage advice about how to navigate the music industry selflessly to a group of enthusiastic Mbarara-based musicians. The conference segment of the Bayimba Regional Festival of the Arts is meant to be an informal gathering in which area artistes network and receive invaluable advice on how to make the best of their talent.

“Do not despair because you have no instruments,” said Ms. Sessanga at Agip Motel Conference Hall on Saturday June 12, 2010 hours before the performances. “You could do a cappella like Ladysmith Black Mambazo because that is cheaper and easier to handle,” she added.

The biggest tot of wisdom was the importance in supporting one another. “Even if people rubbish you, just keep on singing. We all begin by crawling,” she advised adding that artistes ought to respect themselves especially in the way they socialise. Reggae artiste Lawrence Mugabe was grateful that artistes that had attended the workshop felt confident about the performance delivery and made a humble request for musical instruments. Sessanga may have hinted at the importance of having an alternative profession to fall back onto but ultimately said music was her passion. “Yes I am a banker, a teacher and a performing artiste but I love my music the most,” she intimated.

The Mbrara-based artistes agreed to form an association; one that would ensure they interact as a family and take advantage of opportunities like the artistes’ show on Radio West that airs weekdays from 10-11am. Festival Director Faisal Kiwewa cautioned artistes against letting their fame get to their heads. “It is not proper for you to come and say you are a star so you have to perform. The way we work is that you have to apply after which you will be vetted and if you are as good as you claim to be then you will perform,” he advised.

Sessanga’s parting shot was that as musicians, they ought to practice, practice and practice while Kiwewa promised that the advent of a Bayimba Music Academy would ensure there was more time to offer tutelage. The conference marked the end of the weeklong workshop area artistes attended to receive musical tutelage for UK-based Ugandan producer Kaz Kasozi.