Andereya Baguma Courtesy Photo
It is not every day that local artistes that have not spent five years onto the industry stage solo concerts. Yet, almost every year, artistes that usually hang around the National Theatre will surprise you with solo concerts; just this year, Apio Moro, Ann Nassanga alias Afrie, Kenneth Mugabi and on Wednesday Andereya Baguma have all put up not just shows but successful ones.
So what do all these artistes have in common, they have all gone through Suzan Kerunen’s Pearl Rhythm powered Stage Coach programme. It’s a programme she puts together with the support of her husband and producer Jude Mugerwa with a bid to empower artistes that don’t only know what it means to perform live but still appreciate the ethno African sound.
It is the spirit that Andrew Baguma or Andereya as he’s mostly known came with when he staged a show at the National Theatre, it was his debut production but also doubled as an album release party. A spirited performer, he left his soul on stage with songs that were packed with emotions that made you feel every story he was intending to tell through those lyrics.
But he’s not an extravagant artiste, in fact, he could be a junction where Kadongo Kamu music meats the modern heavy sound; most of his songs of the night had his guitar leading the way. Played in such patterns that made Kadongo Kamu an ear worm, he was backed by guitar maestro in the making Aloysiius Migadde, Lawrence Matovu on the groove, Keith Mugenyi on the percussions and JJ Sengoba on the drum kit.
Andereya was also supported by other artistes that have been on Stage Coach Activations such as poet and rapper Wake, Afrie and Migadde. Andereya, the self-titled album has eleven tracks whose topics range from humanity, religion and love.