Somi here for charity concert
Internationally famed Ugandan-born jazz artiste Somi is in town. Somi, real names Laura Kabasomi Kakoma, will be performing at the launch of the Sisi Project, a charity event at the Serena Hotel tomorrow.
The Sisi Project, is a new partnership between Able Child Africa and Black Swan, working with musicians to develop arts related fundraising initiatives in Africa with the aim of using the rich local culture and tradition of Africa to raise funds for work with some of Africa’s most vulnerable children.
For Somi, the launch presents a unique opportunity for her to have her maiden concert at home, the last having been an appearance as a special guest at the Pearl of Africa Music (Pam) awards three years ago. “It is good to be home. This is the first time we are here to do this,” says Somi who will perform with her band. “We have done a festival in Kigali. It is wonderful to be here at home, in Kampala,” the artiste who has rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s musical greats adds.
On her latest album, If the Rains Come First, the debut album released under her new record label ObliqSound, she featured celebrated Grammy winning South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela as a guest on one of the tracks. Masekela has once described himself as a fan of Somi even if she considers him a friend and mentor.
Somi released Eternal Motive as her first album on her own label called SanaaHouse Productions in 2003. This was after several short productions though. She went on to Red Soil In My Eyes released under the Harmonia Mundi/World Village label, in 2007 as her second album but her first international distribution deal. The record received worldwide critical acclaim with the hit single Ingele that maintained a Top 10 position on the US World Music Charts for several months.
It will be this and more that guests will be treated to during her performance tomorrow. “I appreciate the fact that Sipi as a project is youth-focussed. I love children and for any development regarding African issues I am willing to help in whatever way. Though I live in New York, my heart is in Africa,” she says. And as much as this is the maiden show of the singer who is of Ugandan and Rwandan descent, this is not her first charity affiliation.
She recently graced a charity ball to raise funds for scholarships for South African girls and has spent a year of her music journey working with Aids orphans in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. “The most obvious thing that is available on the continent is the arts; Africa is the bedrock of all forms of art and for the launch of the Sisi project, which will be presided over by the honourable minister of security- Amama Mbabazi, himself a father of a child who grew up with disabilities and challenges, we will have an honour of having Somi perform,” Sisi Project director Allan Kasujja said. Tickets to the concert cost Shs100,000 each. The project’s patron is Hugh Masekela, the famed artiste who will later on in the year be gracing five more shows in East Africa.
