The mood is always festive in Uganda during the last two months of the year as people gear up for Christmas and the New Year.
“Gloooooo,Gloria Gloooooo Glory be to Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day,” proves to be among the most famous end-of-year lyrics from Philly Bongoley Lutaaya’s song Gloria.
This trend was birthed in the rainy season of December 1989 when singer Lutaaya released Tumusinze, a music album that is purely inspired by music that celebrates Christmas and the festive season.
The album has always been the most popular music product in Uganda, enjoying airplay both in homes, streets, and mainstream broadcast media.
Mr Andrew Jedidiah Ssebagala, the programme director of the Uganda National Cultural Centre (National Theatre),shares that with a feel of the western world’s 1750-1820 classical, it would not be a mistake to classify Lutaaya’s music as the classical of our society.
“The music is so monumental to the fact that it is not a mistake that every festive season it gets to us. In fact, it enjoys more airplay in Uganda than Bonney M, Celine Dion, and George Michael who globally reign supreme,” he explains, adding that besides the nostalgia, the song was recorded in a much cleaner style with clearer divisions usually with a single melody accompanied by chords, brighter contrasts, and tone colours, making it more relatable.
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