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Singer-turned-opposition leader Bobi Wine has challenged Ugandan musicians to follow in the footsteps of the country’s music trailblazers by channelling messages that empower younger generations.
The opposition leader on Saturday made this call at a memorial event commemorating the late Prince Job Paul Kafeero, one of Uganda’s most celebrated singers, who passed away 18 years ago.
Held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Makindye, the gathering attracted dozens of artists from Uganda’s music, film, and theatre scenes.
Bobi Wine reflected on his close relationship with Kafeero, describing how the late legend, along with Gerald Kiweewa, served as his mentors.
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“I have been lucky all my life, and I was blessed to be close to the late Kafeero. He taught me a lot. They became my advisors,” Bobi Wine said.
He credited their guidance for personal milestones, including settling down in marriage and building a home outside the city centre, as Kafeero had advised.
A Call for Reflection Among Artists
More than 15 years after Kafeero’s passing, Bobi Wine challenged current artists to reflect on the state of Ugandan music today.
“If Paul Kafeero came back from the dead and listened to what we are singing now, would he be proud of us?” he asked.
He also invoked the legacies of other music icons like Herman Basudde and Christopher Ssebadduka, whose music imparted wisdom and helped keep a generation alive during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
“Those legends opened our eyes, and the best way to show appreciation is to follow the direction they showed us,” he remarked.
“I think that a lot of people in our generation would have perished because of HIV/AIDS if it were not for the wisdom and message disseminated by those legends through their music. It was what kept us alive.”
Bobi Wine emphasised the power of music to nurture and protect future generations, questioning whether today’s art carries a message capable of saving lives and inspiring patriotism.
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Building a Better Future Through Music
While Kafeero and his contemporaries had limited formal education and existed pre-Internet era, Bobi Wine noted that they managed to leave an indelible mark on Ugandan culture.
“It is time for us as artists to clean up and start preparing a better future for our next generations,” he urged.
He reminded artists to consider the kind of country they are shaping for the years 2040 and 2050 when they will still be alive and to ask themselves whether their music is contributing positively to Uganda’s future.