Is she the finest female gospel music artiste?

Most people kept second guessing on who the Female Gospel Artiste of the year would be at the VIGA Awards this year.

“I thought I would win Gospel song of the year category with my song Tewali mbeera because it is one hit people sing along to. And, it is meant to give hope to the discouraged. However, I‘m still shocked that I got a bigger award,” Joy Tendo Mata says. She goes on to reveal more about who she is.

Mata which means milk, is the name which my grandmother gave me at birth and I happen to be the only girl in the family. I was born 28 years ago to Patrick Mwanje and Cissy Nanyonjo. When they passed on I was taken up by yekoyada and Margaret Myegorereze at Uganda Railways quarters.

I studied at Kampala Kindergarten, Nakasero Primary School, Buddo Junior School and Tororo Girls’ School. Thereafter, I joined Makerere University Business School where I graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

Starting to sing
As a child, I took part in Sunday school then later joined the church choir at Bwaise Evangelical Church. I used to sing only in church but never did it professionally. When we went to Nabinoonya Beach in Entebbe for a schools’ singing competition, Paddy Man, a producer noticed my talent and he took me to a studio.

While in my Senior One in 2002, i recorded my first song called Gwe weka. I also did five other songs with him, including Sembera, Yegwe, We got To Love One Another, and Yesu Yampita.

My album Tewali mbeera didn’t turn out well because I couldn’t promote it well while in school. once in a while I performed at school.

In 2008, I started promoting the same old album, just when people had started liking my music; I stopped singing for one year because I couldn’t balance school and music. Then I joined university. In 2010, I did another album which had eight songs. The most selling on one of the albums was Tewali mbeera, it became a hit for two years and up to now it is still going strong.

What does her music talk about?
Her music talks about the different situations that different people go through in the world. That was one of the reason she came up with Tewali mbeera, (translated as no situation is permanent). The song makes those who are suffering to know that the suffering will soon end and they will live happily after.

Highs and lows in music
My best moment ever since I started singing is when a family in Bunga invited me to perform at their anniversary. The woman said my song Tewali mbeera had encouraged her to keep going in her marriage. She paid me Shs1.5m for the performance. Thereafter, the man signed for me a Shs3m cheque to appreciate my music.

The worst moment was last year when we went for a show in Luweero, they had paid us only half the agreed amount for the show. When the performance was about to start, power went off and there was no fuel in the generator. The show didn’t happen. The revellers who were unhappy became violent and accused us of stealing their money.

Challenges
Piracy in the Ugandan music industry; the promotion of music also needs a lot of money. Ugandans also don’t show interest in Gospel music.

Away from music
I’m happily married and we have two lovely girls; Tronela and Tatiana. I pray from Way to Heaven Church in Ntinda. Our Pastor Doreen Kamese is supportive and sometimes ensures church members buy tickets when I have a concert.

When I’m not performing, I go to my shop then leave at 4pm for crusades or conferences.

I also run a project called Joy Tendo and the vulnerable; we do village outreaches where we donate to the elderly. I go with fellow artistes and we have been to places like Luweero, Iganga , Bulambati, and Ziroobwe.

Achievements
From music, I have managed to secure invites to sing at corporate functions and weddings in different countries like Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa.

Next month, I will be performing in UK at an event organised by Youth for Tomorrow , a charity organisation.
Apart from VIGA awards, I also won Best TV show at the Olive awards, and this was when I was still a presenter on Record TV.
I also set up a shop at Communications House that deals in men’s outfits.
I have land where I’m going to start constructing apartments.