Promoter Tamukati mourned, eulogised by fans, associates

The story of some of the most entertaining stage performances in Kampala is incomplete without the mention of Tamukati International Promotions, a name that grew popular as the face behind the promoter of Lingala music and musicians, particularly in the 1990s.

On February 17, Tamukati Ndongala breathed his last, throwing a mourning wave in DR Congo and East Africa.

Music lovers and particularly those who enjoyed Congolese or Zaïrois music owe it to him because he flew in all-time favourites such as Pepe Kale, Yondo Sister, Kanda Bongo Man, Alusi Mabele, Tshala Muana, Alain Kounkou, Zaiko Langa Langa-Familia Dei, Bozi Boziana and more.

According to his widow Chantal Tezzo, who broke the news to the world, Tamukati died after a short illness.

In Kampala, fans and associates of the fallen Congolese music promoter have eulogised as a man of many faces.

Local music promoter Balaam Barugahara, of Balaam Marketing & Promotions Agency Ltd, describes Tamukati as a great man, and pioneer promoter whom he admired for starting the promotion business with massive promotions.

Dembe FM’s programme’s producer, Freddie Kakembo, who was one of the fans that thronged fetes where Congolese musicians performed recalls seeing Tamukati at a show headlined by Awilo Longoma in the early 2000s.

“He was a music fan and a fun-loving man, who enjoyed the music or the musicians’ performances as much as the fans. I saw him at a distance during a show at then Nile Hotel. He was dancing like a king dancer,” Kakembo recounts.

Rasta Rob MC is one of the common names you will hear in many songs by the Congolese music stars.

He severally interacted with Tamukati who he says was a very friendly person who had an easy-going persona.
“It is through him that I made acquaintances with several famous Congolese musicians who used to give me shout outs in their songs in appreciation for promoting their songs on my radio shows,” the radio presenter says.

Hope Mukasa, director of Sabrina’s Pub which hosted many shows headlined by Congolese musicians, echoes Kakembo’s description of Tamukati.

“He was very flamboyant, articulate in fashion, ambitious yet rather shy. Otherwise, his contribution in the (Congolese) music industry is immense by the fact that he was a major player in promoting numerous high profile musicians of the 80s and 90s all over the region,” Mukasa observes.

“Last month, in a social media chat with this writer, Tamukati sounded quite jovial and said he was looking forward to cheering the DR Congo national football team that was taking part in the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon,” writes Daily Nation’s Amos Ngaira.