Joanita Kawalya, Rachel Magoola, Moses Matovu, Herman Ssewanyana
Past members
Frank Mbalire
The Afrigo Band is a Musical band in Uganda. It is the longest-lasting musical group in the history of Uganda, having existed for 44 years by August 2019.[1][2][3][4] It is led by Moses Matovu.
History
The band was formed by a group of eight musicians led by their band leader, vocalist, and alto saxophonist, Moses Matovu,[5] who continued to lead the band on its 38th anniversary.[2][4] Playing to their fans at home in Uganda, the group tours regularly in Europe and the United States to play to Ugandans in the Diaspora.[6] He has been performing with the band since and is its leader, as of February 2015.[3] The eight founding band members were:[7]
Moses Matovu
Charles Ssekyanzi
Jeff Sewava
Paddy Nsubuga
Paulo Serumagga
Fred Luyombya
Anthony Kyeyune
Geoffrey Kizito
Band members
As of January 2015[update], all except one of the founding band members had died. The band recruited replacements whenever a member left or died. Members of the band, past and present, include:[2][3][5]
Moses Matovu - founder member, band leader, saxophonist, lead vocals, composer
Deo Mukungu - member, vocalist
Herman Ssewanyana - congas
Charles Ssekyanzi Mutagubya - vocalist, trumpet player, composer[8]
In January 2015, Afrigo Band began regular performances at Club Silk, in Kampala's Industrial area, every Friday evening. Although the club attracts a predominantly young audience, with the arrival of Afrigo, Club Silk is expected to ring in more mature revelers, above the age of 40 years.[9] In November 2015, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary with a sold-out concert at Hotel Africana, in Kampala.[10]
^"Celebrating Afrigo Band". New Vision (Kampala). 31 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^ abcdSsemutooke, Joseph (October 2012). "Afrigo: Uganda's Greatest Band". New Vision Mobile (Kampala). Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^ abcd"Hits That Made Them: Moses Matovu And Afrigo Band". Hipipo.com. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^ abcMusinguzi, Bamuturaki (12 September 2013). "Kampala's Most Resilient Band Afrigo Plays On". The EastAfrican (Nairobi). Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^ abcZziwa, Hassan Badru (17 February 2013). "Afrigo: 38 And Still Counting". The Observer (Uganda). Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^Ortega, Ian (3 September 2013). "Afrigo Band's 38 Years Relived In One Night". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^Natukunda, Carol (30 March 2015). "At 40, Afrigo Is Still On The Go". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 30 March 2015.
^Baguma, Arthur; Sentongo, Herman (5 March 2009). "Sekyanzi's Voice, Talent Will Forever Be Missed". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^Eupal, Felix (1 February 2015). "Uganda: Afrigo Finds Home At Silk". The Observer (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
^Kakumirizi, Michael (27 November 2015). "Uganda's Afrigo Band marks 40 years of music". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 28 November 2015.