Music Icon Miriam Makeba Retires

KAMPALA is getting a reputation of the place where international artistes do their final gig. Remember the reggae band Third World? After 20 years of producing wonderful music together they decided to call it a day in Kampala on New Year's Day 1997.

Then of course the British reggae band, after 30 years together, did their swan song in Kampala when lead singer Ali Campbell called it quits.

Now word is out that South Africa's legendary singer Miriam Makeba did her last show when she performed at the Kampala International Jazz festival at Munyonyo on Friday night.

The debate among pundits is still raging whether Makeba performs jazz or not. For the record, she does not, although she had a saxophonist from New Orleans in her back-up band. But that did not matter to the hundreds of people who turned up to see her off.

The concert was definitely not a mass appeal, Munyonyo has this thing of being a bit out of the way, and Makeba is not exactly a word on the street artiste today.

But there are those who knew of her, and have been charmed by her songs, and it were those that the evening was for.

Increasingly popular Ugandan saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa opened up the night, and it is clear he is getting a very reliable and growing fan base. In turn he is also blossoming as a performer, and he gave his all.

But the night belonged to 'Mama Africa' Makeba. There were those who thought she would perform in a wheel chair, or at least have a chair handy if her 76-year old legs would give way. But she walked on stage unaided, and proceeded to perform for an hour with just one break for water.

Just like UB40 did earlier in the year, Makeba sung all the crowd's favourite songs, and just to hear her sing them was more than some of them could handle.

She spoke, she told stories, but her night was made when information, communication and technology minister Ham Mulira joined her and played the keyboard on one of her last songs.

Makeba wished all politicians could play music as well, then the world would be a better place.

At the end, she did an a cappella with her band in Zulu, and if indeed this was her last show, Ugandans will be proud to have been there, and had a chance to see a legend do her thing one last time.

Kalungi Kabuye

The Reggae News Agency

www.riddimjamaica.net | www.riddimja.com