The impact of incorporating Kiganda traditional musical instruments into popular music performances in Kampala

Abstract

This study addressed the impact of incorporating Kiganda traditional musical instruments into popular music performances in Kampala. It was driven by the need to find out how, when, what and why there is a fusion of Kiganda traditional musical instruments into popular music performance. In addition, the study examined the role of the musicians, producers and how the fused music product is received by the consumers, and also sought to account for the absence of fusion in some cases. The traditional Kiganda musical instruments have suffered over the years from dominance by the western music, which among other reasons was partly caused by the colonial mentality of everything Ugandan being below in status to anything European. Other reasons include improvement in technology, foreign influence and inadequate exposure of the traditional instruments. The researcher carried out a qualitative study, with fieldwork in Kampala that involved tools such as; interviews, observation, participant observation, documentary analysis and literature review, as well as attending performances that involved fusion of traditional instruments and popular music. Furthermore, the researcher used the internet to gather various information concerning, the current study through the various search engines as well as photography to capture important moments for the study. The research established that musicians, producers and the audience have little knowledge concerning Kiganda traditional music instruments, for example, differentiating them by name, functioning, and even their physical appearance. Also, musicians who fuse Kiganda musical instruments and popular music are those that have attained a certain level of music literacy and training, including the academic and practical side of the music. The researcher concluded that fusion of these musical instruments has not had much impact on the popular music industry of Kampala and very little effort has been invested in making fusion more popular and successful in the music industry. The number of musicians involved in the fusion are those that are not so much popular in the music industry and the big names in the industry that endeavor to fuse the two strands do it once in a while because it is not their point of interest. Also, the government has not done much to invest in the music industry and also promote culture which has elements like the Kiganda traditional music instruments.