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Herman Basudde (December 5, 1958 – June 11, 1997) was a Ugandan Kadongo Kamu musician. He was born in the Masaka District, Uganda.[1]
Herman Basudde | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 December 1958 |
| Died | 11 June 1997 (aged 38) Kabale Bugonzi |
| Years active | 1980–1997 |
| Known for | Kadongo Kamu |
Background
editHerman Basudde was born on December 5, 1958, to Eria Katende and Dimitiria Namyalo.[2] He attended both Kibanda Primary School and Kitenga Primary School but reportedly did not continue his education beyond primary school.[3]
According to his brother, Timothy Sserunjoji, a lack of funds may have hindered Basudde from pursuing further studies, despite his love and passion for music. A former classmate of Basudde recalled that Basudde was a quick learner with a strong interest in art and graphic design. He was also a member of the school choir.[4]
The legacy of Basudde in the field of music can be traced to a friend of his father, Eria. The late Mark Makumbi, a former Bukedde TV and CBS Radio presenter, spoke about Basudde while giving some background on Kadongo Kamu singers.
Brown Rodgers, a friend of Eria during World War II, gave him a guitar as a way to remember him after the war, and his son took an interest in the instrument. The guitar quickly took up most of Bassude's time, and his mother, Dimitiria, was dismayed that he spent less and less time doing housework or schoolwork. However, Eria insisted that Bassude keep practicing as he might prosper in a musical career. The guitar, along with the abject poverty in which the family lived, pushed Bassude to drop out of school.[5]
Bassude quickly became something of a local legend. Whenever there was a party in the village, he entertained the guests with his guitar and his music, receiving money in return as a token of appreciation. However, this was not looked upon favorably by others. Some youths wanted to force him out of the area, jealous that he was earning presents and gifts for his services.[citation needed]
Bassude was entertaining at a local Catholic church, where he sang a song called ”Amajjiini ngetala luno" (The Rampant Demons). The priest liked it so much that he told him to play it again and again and paid him generously. This troubled Bassude's rivals, and they secretly planned a way of taking him out.
In the area, there was a rebel group called “FEDEMU” which had captured most parts of Ssuthern Uganda. Basudde was reportedly interrogated and tortured by this rebel group, resulting in serious injuries. He was taken to Masaka Referral Hospital, where he was treated for many days. He later returned home, where he recovered. As he gained energy, his father advised him to leave the village or else he could lose his life.
In the mid-1980s, he was taken by Eria Katende to Kampala.
Career
editHis career guide was the singer Livingstone Kasozi who taught him to play the guitar, sing, and perform live on stage.[6] He toured East Africa countries travelling to Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. This tour raised him over USh (Ugandan shilling).[citation needed]
Basudde is credited as one of the musicians who revived interest in baakisimba, mixing Western and Kiganda music to appeal to a new audience.[7] He had a husky voice, and sang passionate songs about mischievous love affairs, philandering husbands, and bizarre witchcraft. In a popular song, Ekiwuka Ekyaga Muntamu, Basudde used metaphor to invoke the AIDS epidemic in Uganda. In the song, the narrator dreams of a lizard-like insect invading his home and despoiling life, food, and sex.[8]
Basudde died in an accident while travelling to his parent's house in Masaka, south of Kampala. His funeral was a national occasion and raised USh 12 million.[citation needed] Some saw Basudde as a rebellious spirit. He had left the Catholic Church to adopt animism and was attacked by certain clergy for forsaking religion in favor of witchcraft. He was accused of sensationalizing his music by bringing seductively dressed girls onto the stage and commercializing the Kadongo Kamu singers.[9]
Popularity
editHistorian Basaaya Rocks Peter says that Herman Basudde was a prophet since he could foretell what would happen. His popularity is still high, and many upcoming musicians visit his grave to seek wisdom. Fred Ssebatta, one of Kadongo Kamu regents, asserts that Herman Basudde was creative and worked quickly. He continued by saying that it would be very difficult to compare Herman Basudde's music-writing skills with anybody. He further said that whenever Herman Basudde released a song, Ssebatta would target him the next day.
On October 12, 2012, Ghetto president Bobi Wine paid tribute to the work of Herman Basudde. "How I wish prophet Herman Basudde could be around," he said. "He left us to accomplish his mission, but his shoes are far too big for us to wear." Basudde composed in his head and couldn't repeat what he had earlier sung. Herman Basudde toured several East African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. This tour raised him over USh 70 million, a huge amount at that time.[citation needed]
Death and legacy
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Before his death, Basudde had foretold his death through words and actions. Aisha Nakito (widow) narrated what happened days before his death. On June 10, 1997, he went to meet Jane Basirika (concubine) after several days of touring EA. They had a meal while waiting for Serunjoji. As soon as Serunjoji came, he embraced him. They had had some misunderstandings back then, so they had a family reunion. Afterwards, they set for Masaka. His father had been paralyzed at home.
On their way, they stopped at Lukaya road toll for a snack. Here, Basudde got annoyed with a certain man and he was about to fight him. Sylivester Busuulwa settled the matter. He started the vehicle with a lot of anger and at a high speed. Reaching Kabaale Bugonzi, a tragedy happened. As a lorry was overtaking, Basudde lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle overturned several times. "What a mess this man has caused me!" He had his last breath.
Basudde had died in a tragic accident while travelling to his parent's house in Masaka, south of Kampala. He had a huge following for his husky voice and the passion of his lyrics about mischievous love affairs, philandering husbands, bizarre witchcraft, and other songs that propelled him from abject poverty to fortune worth millions during his lifetime. He had revolutionized the Kadongo Kamu (singers) who were known for their skillful guitar playing.
Before Basudde died, he insisted that he be buried with his favorite "dry guitar," as he called it. He had noted that his long-term colleague, Livingstone Kasozi, had been buried holding his favorite cassette tape, and he wanted his guitar to console him in the same way in the afterlife. Basudde's funeral was a national occasion. There was an outpouring of grief at the vigil by the graveside. Ugandan television showed a sea of people attending his burial. An announcer on one of the FM radio stations broke down while telling of his death. His funeral fund raised USD 12 million.
Basudde's songs got rave reviews in the local press. The Uganda Monitor newspaper dubbed them "spiritually and politically inspiring." Some regretted that he could not still live to fight the foreign culture that was corrupting Ugandan minds. Others saw Basudde as a rebellious spirit. He was accused of sensationalizing his music by bringing seductively dressed girls onto the stage and commercializing the Kadongo Kamu singers.
References
edit- ^ "Remembering music legend Herman Basudde". New Vision. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ Kaggwa, Andrew (4 July 2016). "HERMAN BASUDDE: portrait of a musical prophet". The Observer. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Remembering Music Legend Herman Basudde". New Vision. 13 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "List of Top 30 Hit Songs By Music Legend Herman Basudde". blizz.co.ug. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "List of Top 30 Hit Songs By Music Legend Herman Basudde". blizz.co.ug. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ Alinda, Alex. "Walukagga Visits Kadongo Kamu Legend, Livingstone Kasozi's Grave". chimpreports.com. Chimp Reports. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ Baakisimba: Gender in the Music and Dance of the Baganda People of Uganda, Sylvia Antonia Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Routledge, February 4, 2014, p. 126
- ^ The Oxford Handbook of Medical Ethnomusicology, Oxford University Press, USA, April 27, 2011, p. 170
- ^ Ivan, Mubiru (16 June 2020). "LIST: Ugandan celebrities who lost their lives in accidents". Watchdog Uganda. Retrieved 11 July 2023.