Music by voice alone

Like calm water, like mountain air, the voice is the purest instrument, some say, and undiluted it refreshes the soul.

“Ladies and gentlemen, every sound you are about to hear is created by the human voice,” so said the announcer at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Law dinner at Imperial Royale Hotel last Saturday, as a four strong group took on the stage and the bassist struck up with a pounding beat.
One by one, the alto, the base and soprano joined in. Soon, it was a full choir with finger snaps and foot stumps thrown in good measure. They exuded an extraordinary controlled vocal quality that simply leaves no room for instruments with the four men with microphones on stage. This was the Canaan Gents, a gospel group that carries out its ministry through music.

“We formed two years ago,” Samuel Lubwama, the group’s soprano and leader, explains after the gig. “We were singing vocal harmonies back in the university halls and school functions and thought we could try something different. That is when we decided to take on a bigger stage,” Lubwama adds.

Always clad in suits during their performances, this capella group has embraced this form of art thus creating an identity by calling their style afropella.

“Our music is inspired directly from our hearts and God, we left our souls pour out,” Mark Tugume, the group’s alto says.

Although most of the band members are occupied by their professional pursuits and so they sing and practice less, their break came in last year. “We were invited to sing at the KCCA dinner by the chief executive Jennifer Musisi, who attended one of UCU’s functions as the guest of honour,” Tugume narrates.

“She said she loved our music and even invited us for last year’s Kampala carnival celebration,” he adds. From these two events, we have been invited for other functions like house warmings, birthday parties, graduation ceremonies, among others.

Rehearsals
One of the advantages of the Canaan Gents is they can practice anywhere. “The best rehearsal space is the shower,” chuckles Alvin Kashobya, the bassist. “You get good acoustics, the hiss of the water, and the squelch of the soap coming in makes a magical studio,” he adds

Apart from that, these musicians, who are in their early twenties, hope to take their music nationwide as they engage into charity and fundraising missions spreading the sweetness a capella music and the message of hope it carries along.