Sauti Ya Africa

Sauti Ya Africa
Also known as Sauti ya Africa
Origin Kampala - Uganda
Genres Classic
Pop music
Gospel
Years active 2007 (2007) – Present (Present)
Members Francis Mutesasira, Benjamin Katumba, and
George Semaganda

Sauti Ya Africa SYA ("Voice Of Africa" in Swahili), the Commonwealth Music Ambassadors, is a musical group in Uganda. It is a trio of three men who have been performing together since circa 2005.[1][2][3]

History

The band members were dawn together by their collective love of music, before they started the group. The group was mentored by Ulrike Wilson, the representative of the IMF in Uganda at the time. All members graduated from the UK-based Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).In 2007 they were invited to sing during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007, held in Kampala, Uganda's capital city.[1]

Band members

Benjamin Katumba, a bass baritone, who was a member of Bunamwaya Church Choir, from the age of eight years. Later he was a member of Namirembe Cathedral Choir while in high school at Mengo Secondary School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, from Makerere University.[1]

Francis Derrick Mutesasira, a baritone, joined Namirembe Cathedral Choir as a boy chorister, rising through the ranks to become the choir’s music director. He attended King's College Budo, before joining Makerere University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in urban planning.[1]

George Ssemaganda, a high baritone, is a visual artist. He was a lead singer of The Baxmba waves band. It was his desire to improve his vocal ability, that led him to enroll with a Private Vocal Tutor, where he met the other two.[1]

International fame

After a series of performances locally, the trio's silky harmonies got international acclaim which led to several engagements in Europe performing with world renowned Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins and for world leaders including Rothschild family, Rockefeller family, President Obasanjo, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Bill Clinton and many more in 2014. S.Y.A (Sauti Ya Africa) later that year were invited by the Mayor of London to perform for the British royal family. This led to them being crowned Commonwealth Music Ambassadors by HRH Elizabeth II.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lumu, David (5 March 2016). "Sauti Ya Africa: Story behind the music trendsetters". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Arafat Ndugga, Isaac (14 June 2014). "Sauti Ya Africa thrill audience at Sound Cup". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Muleyi, Solomon (4 December 2013). "The Sauti Ya Africa breathtaking Christmas concert". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
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