Baale Shafiki, aka Materio Music, an upcoming artiste, holds his microphone and public address system he uses during the birthday surprises. PHOTO | GEOFREY MUTUMBA.
When Shafiki Bale first set foot in Kampala, he had nothing but a dream, the shirt on his back—and a name that would one day become synonymous with energy and music on the city’s vibrant streets. Today, he is not only turning heads with surprise birthday performances, but also turning Kampala’s corners into stages. Meet Materio Music—a bold, emerging artiste whose story is as dynamic as his sound. Born and raised in Kabale in southwestern Uganda, Bale comes from humble beginnings. His journey into music did not start in a studio or a talent show. It began in the unlikeliest of places: a schoolyard.
“As a new student, I was trying to blend in when someone asked me for my name,” he recalls with a grin. “Out of nowhere, I said ‘Material’. It made people laugh, and it stuck. Over time, it evolved into Materio Music, and now it is my identity.” That name now shouted out in markets and mentioned in trending hashtags captures his vibe perfectly. Materio Music is a natural performer. With an uncanny ability to memorise lyrics after just one or two listens, he does not just listen to music, he lives it. “Some call it talent, I call it a gift,” he says. “Wherever I go, I bring the vibes. That is why Materio Music just feels right.”
The big leap
After completing Senior Four, he dropped out of school. This was not due to poor grades, but because the classroom no longer felt like his path. Music had gripped his soul. “I left Kabale for Kampala with nothing but my passion,” he says. “No friends, no family, just me and my dream.” His mother, like most parents, was devastated. She had hoped he would pursue a more traditional career. But Materio Music was determined to prove that his chosen road, though rough, would lead somewhere meaningful.
