Herman Basudde
| Herman Basudde | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1958 (age 57–58) Uganda |
| Died |
July, 1997 Kaddugala |
| Residence | Gaba Kampala, Uganda |
| Nationality | Uganda |
| Ethnicity | Muganda |
| Citizenship | Uganda |
| Education | primary level |
| Years active | 1970 — 1997 |
| Known for | Kaddongokamu |
| Home town | Masaka |
| Net worth | unknown |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Herman Basudde (1958-1997) was a Ugandan kadongo kamu musician. Basudde was born in Masaka District, in southern Uganda.
Background
.JPG)
His parents were Elia Kizza Katende (deceased) and Dimitiria Namyalo who lives in Bubondo, Butenga Sub County in Masaka district.
Little is known of his early life. According to his brother Sserunjoji, the reason he did not go further may be due to lack of funds to facilitate his love and passion for music. His mother Namyalo narrates that Herman Basudde attended Kibanda and Butenga primary school. One of his classmates says that in Basudde's school years he was a quick learner, and had a passion for art and graphics which took most of his time. Basudde also joined a school choir which earned him credits due to his soft and louder voice.
The legacy of Busudde in the field of music came a long way from his father.The late Mark Makumbi a former Bukedde TV and CBS Radio presenter while giving the background of Kadongokamu singers, talks about Basudde. He says that his father was an X-soldier from second world war veteran. He had a white friend called Brown, who loved him so much. When the mission was accomplished and was time to depart from one another, Brown gave him a guitar saying take this, I don’t have money to give you, let it be a souvenir to remember me from” on his return back home, he kept the guitar because it was of no use to him.
He started to play a guitar at home without anyone teaching him. As time went on, his mother tried to stop him from playing the guitar instead of doing household work or school homework; but his father insisted that he go ahead as he might prosper in a musical career. The guitar could hardly leave no space for books. This, in along with absolute poverty through which the family persisted, pushed him to drop out without completing his primary seven. Whenever there was a party in the village, he could escort his guitar paving a way to entertain the guests. In return as excitement paves, they gave him their appreciation and encouragement in terms of money. Unfortunately, others saw this upside down. The youth mostly laid a plan to throw him down since he was earning presents and gifts wherever he could go and entertain. As his culture, one day he entertained Christian at their local Catholic parish. He sung a song he entitled ”amajjiini ngetala luno” (the rampant demons). The priest was overwhelmed where by he told him to play it again and again. At that function, Basudde earned a lot of money offered to him. This troubled his rivals so much. They planned a way of taking him off. In the area, there was a rebal group called “FEDEMU” which had captured most of the southern part of Southern Uganda. Peace was now in their hands. Basudde’s rival youth approached them informing that Basudde had a gun. Immediately, they sagged his father’s house. They searched the whole place. They grabbed him and took him for interrogation. They tortured him unceasingly while asking for the whereabouts of the gun. After all that, he was brought back home nearly to death. He was taken to Masaka referral Hospital where he was treated for many days. He was later returned home and given medicine there. As he gained energy, his father advised him to leave the village or else he would loss his life. In the mid 1980s, he was picked by Eria Katende and brought to Kampala.
His career
His career guide was Livingstone Kasozi who trained him how to play a guitar, sing and perform live on stage. Kasozi died in early 1997, and Basudde also followed him in that year. Through his whole life in the field of music, rarely praised women. For instance, in his first song "Mukyala Mugerwa" he portrayed an image of a lady who killed her husband in order to be with Basudde whom she had just fell in love with. In another song, Abakyala Babeyi, he praised women.
His popularity
Basaaya Rocks Peter an historian says that Herman Basudde was a prophet since he could foretell what would happen before. His popularity is still rampant where by many upcoming artists visits his grave to seek wisdom.
Fred Ssebatta, one of Kadongokamu regents, asserts that Herman Basudde was creative and worked quickly. He continued by saying that it would be very difficult to compare Herman Basudde in writing music with anybody. He further said that whenever Herman Basudde could release a song, Ssebatta would target him on the second day.
On 12 October 2012, Gheto president Bobi wine paid a tribute to the great works of Herman Basudde. He narrates in time like this, 'how I wish prophet Herman Basudde could be around'... He left us to accomplish his mission but, his shoes are far big for us to wear' he said.
Basude composed in his head and couldn’t repeat what he has earlier sung.
Herman Basudde toured East Africa countries, travelling to Kenya, Tanzania finally to Rwanda. This tour raised him over 70 million shillings, a huge amount at that time.
Death
He died of a traffic collision on June 11, 1997 at Bugonzi, Bukulula.
Herman Basudde's songs
The following are the songs of the late Ssemakula Herman Basudde as were complied by Basaaya Rocks Peter:
- Abakungubazi
- abakyala kyabeeyi
- abankuseere
- abayiimbi
- abayimbi mutuveeko
- Africa
- Akadda nyuma or
- Kelementina
- Akyalina nyoko or
- Nanziri or
- mulekwa
- Buddu owedda
- Bus dunia part one
- Bus dunia part two
- Byendabe
- Byebalinanga
- Byetwalaba
- Ebiyita ekiro or
- Ekiryo nomuwafu
- Eggwala
- Ekirooto kyeggulu
- Ekitutwala Ku mbaga
- Ekiwuka ekyaggwa mu ntamu, ekyali mu sabo parts one and two
- Emikwano
- enimiro yokukubuganga
- Ensi egenze walala
- Esomero lyabakyala
- Esuuti ya kawemba or
- okwekuuma
- Kabuladda Anthem
- Kasamba lyanda
- Kopolo Herman or
- Enguzi
- Linda Ziwere
- Milly Nanyondo
- Mubune engoye
- Mukyala mugerwa parts one and two
- Mulamu tonenya
- Muwase nju
- muyige okwambala
- Mwami tonjeeza
- Mweraba Ngenze
- Nabiryo ngenda kunoba
- Namagembe
- Namuddu
- Namuleme
- Okuduula
- Okuzaala kwa leero
- Olulimi oluganda
- Olumbe or
- Walumbe e Ttanda
- Omwavu
- Pilisiira
- Semukuutu
- Taso funa akalambe
- Tetukyalina bakazi or
- omukazi akola
- Tudaabirize omukama or
- amayembe getalaluno
- Tulabye nnyo abalabi
- Uganda ebadde etya
- Waliwo byetwalaba
There are also songs which he collaborated with others like;
- Nabiryo ngenda Kunoba with his sister Nabiryo
- Kabuladda anthem with his Kabuladda guitar singers
- Olumbe with Kasozi Livingstone and Mbalire Kateteyi
His death and aftermath
Hermann Basudde, a famous Ugandan singer and guitarist died in a tragic accident while travelling to his parents' house in Masaka, south of Kampala.
Basudde 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 which propelled him from abject poverty to a fortune worth millions during his lifetime.
He had revolutionised the Kadongo Kamu (singers) who were known for their skillful guitar playing.
Before Basudde died he insisted that he be buried with his favourite "dry guitar", as he called it. He had noted that his long term colleague, Livingstone Kasozi had been buried holding his favourite cassette tape and he wanted his guitar to console him in the same way in the after life.
Basudde's funeral was a national occasion. There was an outpouring of grief at the vigil by the graveside. Television showed a sea of humanity attending his burial. An announcer on one of the FM radio stations broke down while telling of his death. And his funeral fund raised Ushs12 million.
Basudde's songs got rave reviews in the local press. The Uganda Monitor newspaper dubbed them as "spiritually and politically inspiring". Some regretted that he could not still live to fight the foreign culture that was corrupting Ugandan minds via the FM stations.
Others 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 favour of witchcraft. He was accused of sensationalising his music by bringing seductively dressed girls onto the stage and commercialising the Kadongo Kamu singers.
But when he was finally laid to rest, his relatives forgot his express wish which was to be buried with his "dry guitar" as he called it.
Soon stories began to circulate that Basudde was returning to haunt his friends and relatives reminding them of their broken promises. First it was one of his mistresses who told her friends that Basudde was disturbing her in her sleep. "Yudaaya Nakawesa came to tell me that Basudde wanted his dry guitar to join him within the week," said Aisha Nakato.
Basudde's spirit then began to haunt Benon Kibuuka, a famous artist friend, who had taken a major part in his funeral. Mukiibi Kizito, his young brother, and his friends Lawrence Mwebe and Kijjambu also had troubled nights with Basudde coming to them in a vision and asking them about the whereabouts of his dry guitar.
Basudde's pleadings became so intense that his friends decided to let him rest. They demolished the grave and placed his guitar on top of his casket. Since then Basudde has been at peace, but no one would be surprised if one day the sounds of his dry guitar and his husky voice returned to haunt them.[2]
See also
- Kaddongokamu
- Paul Kafeero