“All work and no play makes children dull,” recalls Kenneth Kaziba, the creative director of Busoga Children Orchestra. The group was one of the highlights of last year’s Christmas celebrations held at Busesa Mixed Primary School which is near where the group is now rehearsing for a major event due next month.
“We started last year although Kitakule Foundation had been planning to start a music program earlier. I have liked music since childhood. I actually do contemporary music but just on the side and not as a profession,”Kaziba asserts. I gathered that Mr. Kaziba enjoys nurturing young people through music.
Funded by the Kitakule Foundation, the young group comprises about 40 children although some are inconsistent in training. Those who are eager have now learned how to play instruments and have since been performing for audiences around Busesa especially at Rotary events.
“People have been amazed. We shall have our maiden trip to Mbarara (Western Uganda),” says Kaziba with a chuckle. You would not begrudge him the chuckle given that this trip will bring together Rotarians from East Africa.
Dr.Kenneth Kaziba
Kaziba explains that Rotarians from different Rotary Districts in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will converge in Mbarara from 27th to 29th April 2023. Busoga Children’s Orchestra has since been seriously training for this event, which is quite a big deal as about 7,000 people are expected to attend.
Kaziba says after this event, there are plans in store including family shows. One show will be in Jinja and another in Kampala both targeting specific audiences. As if that is not enough big news for the young music group, all of them still in school, Kaziba says they will also record an album this year.
“Although during the rehearsals they are doing cover songs, the album will focus on original compositions,” explains Kaziba. He notes that they will do a variety of genres. Asked if the music does not interfere with their studies, Kaziba asserts that no training is done during school time save for the day scholars during weekends.
“We are strict with their studies. Actually, that is why the group is composed of only pupils and students. We don’t want non-school goers to be part of the group as they may mislead them into abandoning school,” he notes.
He adds that they do music as a co-curricular activity. Through the training, some have shown good potential and have thus become skilled in different roles. Some are now good instrumentalists while others are good at dancing and singing.
There are a number of modern and local instruments including among others, a long drum , Adungu, xylophones , fiddles (all local), modern drums and a keyboard. It is captivating to see children playing these instruments, especially the big ones that would be a challenge to some adults.
A look at two instrumentalists
Emmanuel Kirabo, a drummer, says he learned the skill from a Watoto Christian School along Masaka road. “I learned in 2013-2014,” says Kirabo who is now a student at Kampala international University (Jinja branch).
Another instrumentalist is Caleb Kissa who plays the keyboard. Kissa completed a Barista short course recently. “I grew up playing musical instruments. I play piano, acoustic guitar and the electric guitar,” he notes. Kissa looks forward to the trip to Mbarara and he remarks that the rehearsals are going on well.
Some parents’ views about the project
Obviously as expected with such groups is the uncertainty among some parents who view music differently and most often negatively. Kaziba observes that some parents did not like the idea at the beginning but after several meetings some of them have embraced it.
“There were many challenges during Covid 19 with some young girls becoming young mothers. Most of the children are amazed that their leisure time is well spent. During holidays, we train four times a week and we train twice on weekends for the day scholars,”Kaziba explains.
Assisting the trainers is Dennis Kisakye, a supervisor who steps in whenever Kaziba is away. “I make sure that everything is okay. If we have a power cut, I have to improvise. We do urban and traditional music,”Kisakye explains about the young music group.
He adds that the Kitakule Foundation also gives them breakfast and lunch. The kids love what the Foundation has offered them and the parents are beginning to appreciate the opportunities their children have.
Like Kaziba noted, Kisakye observes that some parents are misinformed about music and think that their children may drop education for music. “We had to explain to them that education is a priority and music is secondary,” says Kisakye.
One of the group’s biggest challenges is funding. The Foundation that has acquired some music equipment. All said and done, as the rehearsals go on, let’s look forward to the young music group’s maiden event before thousands of people.