Bunyoro- Kitara Kingdom has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bajjo Events and Marketing Agency Limited to identify, nature and expose the talents of musicians in the region for the next three years.
The partnership will see annual music festivals held to also help the kingdom use music in promoting Kinyoro culture.
Dubbed ekineguko makeke the music would be per the norms of the Bunyoro culture and all music genres will be entertained.
Although details of the memorandum remain scanty, the music festival would be preceded by a series of other activities such as sports galas and language competition, among others.
These would cut across the eight districts of Bunyoro Kingdom including Hoima, Masindi, Kibaale, Kakumiro, Buliisa, Kagadi, Kiryandongo and Kikuube.
Bunyoro Kitara kingdom Minister for Social Services and Youth Affairs, Patrick Katende on Monday told The Albertine Journal by phone that the festival which would be telecasted live will be the final event in celebrating Bunyoro’s rich culture.
This comes at a time when musicians in Bunyoro have for long been struggling to promote themselves in vain due to a myriad of challenges like lack of financial support to shoot standard music videos and producing splendid audios.
The memorandum of understanding signing ceremony took place at the Kingdom offices in Hoima City on Monday.
Andrew Kirungi Byakutaga, the Kingdom Prime Minister and Katende signed on behalf of the kingdom.
Bajjo Events and Marketing Agency Limited was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Alphonse Mukasa commonly known as Bajjo.
The development has artists comment about their grievances.
Jessy Mugisa alias King Jessy Nectar the “Nduga Hoima” heat maker who appreciates the initiative, was quick to add that the kingdom needs to go beyond in promoting music that appreciates Bunyoro culture, glory and power.
“They should lobby to have our music put on the radio play list giving Artists equal Airplay and support them financially because music is expensive to sustain,” he opines.
He also proposed that the festival name be changed to “otandeka mukinyege” as the one used “eekineguko makeke” might not sound sweet in some people’s ears.
“The festival is a dream come true, but the way it will be implemented matters,” says Dickens Ayebale also known as the Runyo Flow Master.
The Kingdom has since earmarked radio special segments (programmes) to play local music a minimum of one to two hours daily.
“We should not be marginalised, let our music be played along with music from elsewhere, because it is easy for a listener to turn off the Radio if he or she is not interested in programme set up,” Dico reacted on the Radio programmes earmarked to play Runyoro songs.
At the moment, there are more than six hundred musicians in Bunyoro, according to Uganda Musicians Association (UMA). This means the harvest is much and the public is only waiting to see harvesters.
Asked where and when the festival is to commence, Katende told The Albertine Journal that the organising committee is likely to consider the availability of grounds, security and returns on investment before deciding on the venue.