It's astonishing to realize that 19 years have passed since the death of Herman Basudde. Known for his evocative lyrics, Basudde was a pivotal figure in the kadongokamu genre, leaving an indelible mark on Ugandan music history, as noted by Andrew Kaggwa.
Ugandan music has always been deeply introspective, melancholy, and filled with immense talent. Artists once entered studios not out of obligation but to convey meaningful messages. This is the essence of Basudde's masterpiece, "Bus Dunia."
"Bus Dunia," like many kadongokamu songs, is crafted with three guitar chords, enriched with beautiful piano melodies and a foundational bass line, creating a timeless piece lasting about 14 minutes. In this song, Basudde contemplates a world fraught with problems, evident even to the youngest children.
Basudde likens this chaotic world to a bus that has lost its way. He highlights the conflict between the driver and the conductor—leaders of the bus—over its destination. Their disagreement has driven the passengers towards a destructive abyss.
Basudde describes the reckless bus driver who ignores speed bumps and potholes, causing such severe jolts that some passengers are thrown off, resulting in fatal injuries. It's remarkable how Basudde uses a series of road-related incidents to depict the turmoil Uganda was perhaps yet to experience.
Most strikingly, Basudde used road accidents as a metaphor for the declining state of livelihoods, only to tragically die in a real accident in 1997, mirroring the fate of the bus in his song. Recently, I spoke with Aisha Nakitto, Basudde's widow, who revealed a surprising fact: "Bus Dunia," despite its length and depth, was composed in less than two hours.
"He started writing 'Bus Dunia' around 10 pm and finished by 11:30 pm. That's how he wrote most of his songs. By the time he completed writing, the lyrics were already ingrained in his mind, so he didn't need a memorization book during recording sessions," she shares. Before the glory days that saw Herman Basudde, along with Paulo Kafeero, Fred Ssebatta, Matia Luyima, and others, elevate kadongokamu to greatness, Basudde arrived in Kampala in 1985 after migrating from Bubondo, Butenga sub-county in Masaka.
It is noted that Herman Basudde had been performing in the Masaka region during the 1970s, though documentation from this period is limited. His career is largely recognized to have taken off with the success of his hit song "Mukyala Mugerwa" in 1986.
Discussing the history of kadongokamu, the late Mark Makumbi, a former CBS FM presenter, mentioned that while Basudde might not have inherited his musical talents from his father, his father did provide him with his first guitar.
The late Elia Kizza Katende, a World War II veteran, had acquired the guitar from a white soldier friend. With no use for it himself, the guitar remained idle until Basudde discovered it and taught himself to play. After dropping out of primary school, Basudde began performing at parties for gifts, tokens, and money, which he would bring home.
As his popularity grew in the village, Basudde encountered trouble with local youths. During a time of insurgency, he faced false accusations of possessing a firearm, leading to his arrest and severe torture, nearly resulting in his death.
"After that harrowing experience, his father advised him to leave the village if he wanted to survive, and that's how he ended up in Kampala," Makumbi disclosed during one of his programs.
Born on December 5, 1958, to Katende and Dimitiria Namyalo, Basudde's song "Mukyala Mugerwa" tells the story of a woman who murders her husband to be with him, despite just meeting him. Although composed in 1986, the song, like many of Basudde's works, reflects events that continue to occur today.
Basudde collaborated with the Lukwata Guitar Singers to record "Mukyala Mugerwa," as it was common for kadongokamu songs to be presented as theatrical productions. Various musical collectives, such as Kulabako Guitar Singers, Kadongo Kamu Super Singers, Bazira Guitar Singers, and Matendo Promoted Singers, often staged their concerts as serialized plays.
Lukwata Guitar Singers was led by Moses Katende, who was considered Basudde's guardian in Kampala. "When Basudde arrived in Kampala, without any friends or relatives, Katende was the person he sought out," Nakitto explains.
The group included artists like Immaculate Nabiryo (Basudde's sister), Moses Ssengooba, Rosette Nakubulwa, Cissy Nakku, Sauda Nakitende, Livingstone Kasozi, and Nakitto herself, who later became Basudde's wife. Nakitto recalls that their performances began at 9 pm and continued until 1 am, featuring not only songs by group members but also acted-out skits.
"We used skits to bring the songs to life, and sometimes the songs even had special costumes," she reveals.
Most of the skits Nakitto participated in revolved around marriage and involved Basudde, not only because they were lovers but also because Basudde was a prolific songwriter. Nakitto notes that although many kadongokamu artists wrote their own songs, Basudde would write for himself, Nakitto, and Nabiryo. She mentions that with Basudde's talent, he could compose four excellent songs in a single day.
Even after Basudde left Lukwata to form his own group, Kabuladda Professional Singers, in 1993, Nakitto and Nabiryo were the first to join him, along with Sylvester Busulwa and Mbalire Kateteyi.
With Kabuladda, the name and location changed, but Basudde continued collaborating with many of the same people from Lukwata. Apart from his final productions with Kasiwukira, he continued to create music with Alex Ngabaye of Nick Studio, the same producer he worked with on his debut album, "Mukyala Mugerwa."
Basudde achieved greater heights with songs like "Enimiro Y'okubuganga," "Priscilla," "Mukyala Kandida," and "Ekiwala Kye Busega." Other notable tracks include "Obwavu," "Ekyali Mu Ssabo," "Bus Dunia," "Abakazi Ba Beeyi," and "Abayimbi."
In "Abayimbi," Basudde discusses the plight of artists who pass away without fellow musicians attending their funerals and highlights challenges like lacking homes or offices, difficulty accessing medical treatment, and their deaths going unnoticed until after burial.
"Many people consider him a prophet because many of the things he sang about have come to pass," Nakitto remarks.
On June 11, 2016, fans paid tribute to Basudde by visiting his gravesite, commemorating 19 years since his passing. Nakitto reveals that she used to accompany Basudde whenever he visited his parents, but on this particular occasion...
