Sarah Tshila thrills fans in Kampala. Her acoustic-driven songs have undertones of traditional music, which is blended beautifully with a hip-hop background. Photo/MORGAN MBABAZI
Move over hip-hop. Step aside rhythm n’ blues. The music that’s ruling the Pearl of Africa is a mix of everything — instrumental, electronic, hip-hop and even traditional African.
And it has a sensational new queen on the throne: Sarah Tshila.
Two months after her first live concert, dubbed “Dream Chasing on the Nile,” Tshila is the talk of town.
Many of the songs she performed can be heard in restaurants, homes and even in the streets.
The most popular is the title track, whose main theme is returning to one’s roots — the Nile — for energy and life. The Nile symbolises Africa, the cradle of civilisation.
The background of the May 15 2009, show: A series of fluttering flags of Nile Basin nations like Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda.
Other compelling songs include Namboozo, in Lugisu, her mother tongue.
It is about a Gisu girl who returns to her village after a long period away. It’s a folklore tale of a lass wooed by another culture.
Then, of course, is the evergreen Buli Shesi Nghola, also sung in Lugisu.
It has a strong Kadodi (traditional beat) and decries domestic violence against women.
It, too, was coyly introduced to Ugandans at the magical one-and-a-half hour May show... a show interposed with poetry recitals.
Besides singing, Tshila is a member of the Breakdance Project, Uganda.
The project uses break dance and hip-hop to bring about positive change in society.
Started in February 2006, it has held workshops in Kampala and other key towns.
The project aims at empowering the youth through music, and at bridging the gap between northern Uganda and the other regions of the country.
Yet another objective is to bridge the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged.
Sipping from the Nile was released in August 2007 on the T-Pole Records label to critical acclaim.
But not in Uganda. Tshila was not well known at home then — despite being among the best in blending African music with hip-hop.
“Tshila’s acoustic-driven songs have strong traditional music undertones, which she blends beautifully with her hip-hop background,” says World Pulse Magazine.
“The lyrics and melodies in Sipping from the Nile are strong, beautiful and intelligent. The arrangement is dazzling yet conventional, with the songs seemingly independent yet integrated,” says The New Vision newspaper of Uganda.
“The attention to detail that Tshila pays each of the 19 songs in three languages — Lugisu, Kiswahili and English — is amazing.
There are no computer generated beats; the entire album was recorded in live studio sessions,” observed the Daily Monitor.
“Tshila set out to be the next best musician out of Africa,” wrote Phoebe Mutetsi in the Daily Monitor two years ago. “Listening to her speak of her music and poetry, you would imagine this is all she has lived and breathed...”
In 2007, the BBC World Service conducted a talent search dubbed “The Next Big Thing.”
Tshila was named one of the 20 best unsigned artistes in the world. She was chosen from 2,000 entries from 88 countries.
Her music was adjudged: “The perfect soundtrack to a nice summer day. Delightful!”
Tshila is a spokesperson and contributor to youth movements in Uganda.
She is hopeful that she will exploit her computer skills in future (she has a degree in software engineering.) For now, music takes centre stage.
“When I perform and people do not ask me what type of music it is or how to dance to it, that is the best moment of my career,” she says.
Tshila specialises in the guitar, which she considers a versatile instrument. “It is portable and flexible. You can play both traditional and modern rhythms on it.”
Currently, Tshila is promoting her music in Europe, especially her second album, which is yet to be announced.
“I am recording it in Vienna, Austria. It’s a fusion of hip-hop, African traditional tunes and electronic music.”
“I have so far recorded four songs. One of them titled Kaggua, and was released in November 2008 on the Pep Sounds label in Austria.
“It’s a mix of folklore rhythm and electronic dance. I will release the second album next year and promote it afterwards on a tour of Europe and America.”
Tshila plans on creating a platform to promote foreign professional musicians in East Africa and to assist untapped talent in the region.
Born on the June 10, 1983, in Kampala, Uganda, Tshila did not grow up among musicians, neither was she taught music in school or while growing up.
Indeed, she never had a chance to develop her musical talent until she completed a bachelor’s degree in software engineering in the US, in May 2005.
“After graduating from college in Valdosta, Georgia, I came back to Uganda to find something more purposeful to do than just an 8-5 desk job.
“One day I met Krazy Native and Babaluku and they asked if I could rap, because of the way I was dressed, perhaps.
“I had written songs and I had always been a poet but I had never done music professionally. We went into a recording studio in Naguru and we went crazy... recording an entire album.”
Tshila has been featured in World Pulse magazine for contributing to society through music.
Her notable performances have been at the Zanzibar film festival (2007), World Music Day, Kampala (2006 and 2007), Kampala Street Art Festival (2007), and Amakula Film Festival, Kampala (2006 and 2007).
In July 2006, she played at the Zanzibar International Film Festival where she was first recognised as a contributor to the diversity of Ugandan music abroad.
She was also featured in a documentary for Current TV on the struggles of a young African in modern times, called Raw Truth.
“A month after returning to Uganda, I joined an underground hip-hop group called Bataka Squad. We rapped about life in Uganda and what we could do to create a better nation.
“We rapped in our native language, Luganda. And we created a youth camp called the Bavubuka Foundation to enable people to express themselves through music,” Tshila told World Pulse.
At her maiden show in Kampala, Tshila was accompanied on vocals by Stella, Claudia and Sharon. On the tumbas was Joseph, while DJ Ricky provided the electronic vibe.
So move over genge, soul, rap and rhumba. Even better, just move together as one. Under your new soul queen.
