Bataka Sqaud Meet Bill Clinton in the U.S.
As the first ambassadors to take Ugandan native rap (Lugaflow) to the Hollywood platform, Krazy Native a.k.a Saba Saba, brother to artistes Maurice Kirya and Vamposs and Silas Balabyekkubo a.k.a Babaluku, son to deceased evangelist Deo Balabyekubo have been the pillars sustaining Ugandan hip-hop on the world scene.
Their dream of seeing native Luganda rap (Lugaflow) gain status in the major leagues as a well-respected form of music representing not only the youth but the people of Uganda has finally come true. Early this year, they embarked on a global mission, which started at the African global hip-hop summit in South Africa where they rapped in native Luganda and shared platform with world famous musicians like Awadi, Knaan, Pro kid, Proverb, Tumi and The Volume and Guru of Gangstarr. In June, the Bataka Squad premiered Diamonds in the Rough, a documentary about the realities of hip-hop, the youth and the people of Uganda, at Cinespace, a theatre in Hollywood.
After the movie, the duo staged concerts across the US, from Connecticut to Washington D.C, New York, Boston, Arizona to Los Angeles and San Francisco. In New York, they performed at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, famous for hosting world celebrities including Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Angelina Kidjo.
Most recently, in September, they performed with festival creator and Singer/musician Michael Franti to a crowd of 70,000 at the Power to the Peaceful Festival in San Francisco.
The duo under their music with a positive change and their project Bavubuka All Stars, met former US President Bill Clinton at the Millennium Network’s Inaugural Reception, a concert and fundraiser for the Clinton Foundation. They were privileged to rub shoulders with award-winning actors like Jeffrey Wright and celebrity musicians like John Legend among others.
It has been a very rewarding and long year for the Bataka Squad, more recognition not only outside Uganda but also back home. They have been nominated for the first time in the PAM awards in Babaluku’s Utake collaboration. Bataka Squad has elevated to that level of the Ugandan people understanding the true message in positive music especially the younger generation that is seeking the truth and direction.
Through this music genre, youth all over Uganda are being motivated not only to address the realities of their day to day life but also taking responsibility to navigate towards the solutions. With their next solo album Cup of Coffee in the pipeline and their Tujja babya the hard way album already here and hitting, only the sky can be the limit to their success.
[Via The Monitor ]
