Chameleone

Jose Chameleone (born Joseph Mayanja; 30 April 1979) is a Ugandan AfroBeat artiste and the most popular musician of his generation in Uganda and many countries. Chameleone sings in Luganda, English, and Swahili and has won multiple awards.

Musical career

Chameleone's career began at a young age in 1996 as a DJ at the Missouri night club in Kampala. He was later signed to the Kenyan record label Ogopa DJs, where he broke through with his first single,"Bageya" that featured Kenyan artist Redsan.

Chameleone's musical style is a combination of Ugandan music, central African rumba, zouk, and reggae. His first album, Bageya, was released in 2000. By 2013, he had released twelve more albums, including Mama Mia in 2001, Njo Karibu and The Golden Voice in 2003, Mambo Bado in 2004, Kipepeo in 2005, Shida za Dunia in 2006, Sivyo Ndivyo and Katupakase in 2007, Bayuda in 2009, Vumilia in 2010, Valu Valu in 2012, Badilisha in 2013, Tubonge in 2014, Wale wale in 2015, Sili Mujjawo in 2016, Sweet Banana in 2017, Champion in 2018.

He is CEO of the music label Leone Island that has signed many musicians from Uganda and East Africa, including the late Moses Radio, Weasel, the late AK 47, King Saha, Papa Cidy, and Pallaso, Melody, Yung Mulo, Big Eye, Deejay Pius and many more.

In March 2014 at the Lugogo Cricket Oval Stadium in Kampala, Chameleone broke the record for the largest audience of any East African performer, drawing an estimated 40,000 fans to his "Tubonge Live" concert. In 2017 he made another outstanding mark on his annual do LGEND | Hit after Hit concert that was once again a sell out. The cricket oval was sold out to full capacity as fans danced away to his music that has made him a regional and continental darling. The speaker of the parliament of Uganda, Rebecca Kadaga, designated Chameleone to be the Ambassador of the Busoga Tourism Initiative.^[1]

Other activities

Chameleone is a member of the Musician's Community, a coalition of musicians who use their fame and fortune to help reduce poverty and create awareness campaigns for HIV/AIDS. He has performed a great number of concerts overseas including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium,^[2] Malaysia, China, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, South Sudan, Germany, and Switzerland, among others. He is volunteering with the US peace mission with return and rehabilitation of former Lord's Resistance Army rebels as he inspires them to start a fresh and more mainstream lives.

Family and personal life

Chameleone is married to Daniella Atim Mayanja. The couple have five children: Abba Marcus Mayanja, Alfa Joseph Mayanja, Alba Shyne Mayanja; Amma Christian Mayanja and Xara Amani Mayanja. Abba Marcus is a swimming medalist on the Uganda juniors national team and also released his first single "Game Over" under the name T-REX; Alfa Joseph is a swimmer too.

Chameleone has many famous siblings. Douglas Mayanja, alias Weasel, is a performer of Goodlyfe Crew and solo artist. Chameleone's brother Pius Mayanja, known by the alias Pallaso is also a music artist. Other siblings include Emmanuel Mayanja, alias AK47(RIP) and Henry Kasozi, the CEO of Fling Fire clothing line.

Discography