Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

Music and politics are inseparable

Kyadondo East Mp Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine

Music literally refers to local or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such away as to produce beauty of form, harmony and expression of emotion. Basicaly, music is the expression of one’s inner thought and feelings about a particular subject.
Music played a central role in the struggle for liberation in South Africa and other countries on the African continent.
In Uganda, songs carrying political messages both in support of past governments and the current NRM government and those against in the perspective of civil, social, economic and political liberties depending on one’s interpretation, can be traced to the 1980s by artistes like Dan Mugula and others.
The importance or impact of music in politics in Uganda has been tested during political campaigns by various political parties. Songs such as Tubonganawe by a section of Ugandan artistes, and Tulikubunkeke by Ronald Mayinja, among others, are good examples. Minimal attention was attached to these songs.
It was not until artistes Robert Kyagulanyi’s (Bobi Wine) religious song,Tuliyambala Engule, that music has been interpreted to be in conflict with politics. Perhaps this is what could sparked the need by the state to propose regulation on artistes’ activities.
The power of music in politics was recognised by Plato way back in the Republic when he warned that “Any musical innovation that endangers the State must be prohibited because when modes of music change, the fundamental laws of the State always change with them”.
Basing on Plato’s observation, it is not any different from what is happening in Uganda.
It is surprising that following release of the Tuliyambala Engule song that the Minister for Gender issued proposed laws and regulations that seek to streamline the activities of artistes and the music industry as whole.
One wonders why for this long, no one had bothered to think about amending such laws. What is so special at this point in time that the state minister for Gender sought to regulate the work of artistes?
It really becomes hard to convince the public that the regulations are in good faith.
With or without the regulations, music and politics are inseparable. What matters is the expression of views one has about a political subject in a musical sense.
Has anyone ever wondered why all national anthems of most countries I know of are musical and not poems or recitals?
Brian Kisomose,
[email protected]