It takes a keen music enthusiast to really appreciate pop-operatic music. The genre is a fusion of opera and classical music and is really popular in the Western world.
Sauti Ya Africa, a quartet that comprises Ben Katumba, Charles Awany, George Semaganda and Francis Mutesasira, is at the forefront of spreading this music in Uganda since 2007. They have already toured globally in major European and US cities and performed alongside some of the best in the world.
But in their nine-year existence, the quartet has been mainly performing cover versions of classic operatic songs. All that changed last Thursday night, when they released their maiden album, United, at the Kampala Music School.
The audience jammed the auditorium an hour before the show and it took some time for organisers to ensure that everyone got a view of the performers. Sauti Ya Africa performed all the hits on their 12-track album including cover title United, as well as their signature hits How Do I and Hallelujah.
There was also Mama, a song that told the trials of a Ugandan woman, the bubbly You Are The One that brought out their best harmonic sound, as well as You In My Heart.
Other hits included Missing You, Crying, Memory and Don’t You Ever, plus two bonus Christmas hits – Ave Maria and Oh Holy Night. To cap a memorable evening, there was time for guests to win autographed albums as well as some time for selfies with the quartet.
Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe Ssali was enthralled to be around.
“What these young men are doing is amazing,” she said. “They need every support from all music lovers because they are a global brand.”
The album, which goes for Shs 30,000, is already available on Amazon.com and leading music houses. It will be available at Namirembe cathedral this Sunday during the Carols by Candlelight.
