Kampala — It was that humongous American Jazz musician, Duke Ellington (not any more a Duke than Count Basie was a Count, or King Oliver a monarch!) who composed a jazz work which he entitled: Such Sweet Thunder!
Come and listen to its stupefying vibrations if you are passing my way. Some serious listening people (or "Cats" as he would have half-mischievously called them) considered The Dook to be the foremost American composer, period.
Who am I to not agree? But what of this Mengo music, which some ignorant folk might think a misspelling of Mango, that most delicious of fruits? (Or, even, is the name a play on Men Go, Women Come?) The fact of the matter is that recently sweet music, wonderful music, has been emanating from Mengo, seat of the Buganda kingdom which this column discussed last week. It talked about Eng JB Walusimbi, Katikkiro, (Prime Minister) of Buganda, and the progressive steps he was leaping to move Buganda development forward: in Uganda and the region as a whole.
Like Swift's Lilliputians, some Baganda were bent on pulling him back, filth issuing from their mouths - these being the true enemies of Buganda. And who quickly jumped to his aid but the King, the Kabaka, who had appointed him in the first place? This is what Mutebi II was reported to have said on Monday: "Attending to talk-shows on radios and arguing on each and every issue might not help you. My appeal is that we stop talking too much and embark on working to better our kingdom."
He recalled Buganda's halcyon days, and called on his people to return to those. Truer words were never said, because the radio wars, the Bimeeza, are largely like poisonous drugs which stultify logic. The Nabagereka (Queen) of Buganda has always been wonderfully for actions over words, and her work surely speaks for itself. Will this top troika signal new and crucial departures at Mengo?
One swallow does not a summer make, but at its arrival the country people start airing their summer wear. If Mengo were to join the majority of Baganda in working closely, as they do, with the Movement government to improve Uganda, there is no limit to what can quickly be achieved. We live for the day. What of elsewhere?
Imitation, it is held, is the best form of flattery. How odd then (but most pleasing!) that no less than the Head of FDC, Kizza Besigye, not as a rule known these days to be an admirer of President Museveni, should imitate him by setting off, as Museveni did, to teach patriotism to the citizens of this country, for which the usual elements jeered at him long and hard. So far they seem oddly silent about the imitator, and the imitation.
He had much imitated Museveni when working for him; could it also be a new re-start? Did the earth move? There are stranger things on earth and in heaven! And remember: "Never say never!"
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ALL BUDO FIRE SUSPECTS CLEARED, was the huge headline of Thursday's Vision. For a moment I suffocated with rage. How could such a thing be? At once the crocodile tears started, and will wet the land. The actual fire starters on the night are not the only guilty parties; it seemed a whole range of activities had occurred beforehand, culminating in the night's nightmare in which 20 young children were reduced to ashes.
It was said the activities involved financial mismanagement on a wide scale, which in turn meant the non-payment of wages to many workers. Did bitter ones among these ignite the fire? Where was the housekeeper; the guards? Was it only wild rumours that afterwards said there had been talk that something would happen that night? It will be instructive to read the Police Report (if there is one such).
The whole episode has been clouded in total administrative lethargy. Why a commission of inquiry was never set up regarding this gruesome event beggars belief. Myriad other conflagrations have happened around the country; fortunately none of them with loss of life on this scale.
How many heads are going to roll this time, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and specifically from the Police, the latter of whom the Judge considered to have failed in every respect when carrying out investigations? The substantive Minister was North expending energy on the meaningless Juba Talks (Jokes) and can be let off; but did he journey with his Office Stool?
Dignify the kids' agonising deaths by putting offending heads on a silver salver - if their owners don't offer them first by resignation. (If pigs could fly!) One thing must be done immediately. If a Criminal case has failed to be sustained because of the blundering Police, then a Civil one must be instigated.
Let all Ugandans (not just the Budo affected ones) start a fund for the purpose; my million is ready! Then let the whole story, including its loathsome villains, be named and shamed daily. They are currently basking in their let-off. Hitler's vile Nazi killers of Jews are still being dug up from their hiding holes to be brought to trial 70 years on.
We can wait a little. But I can hardly wait until 6 May: the brilliant Uganda National Contemporary Ballet (ex-Burudani) is performing a special new piece, Harmony, dedicated to my recent birthday, at the National Theatre at 7pm. "Harmony" - me, your humble columnist? As we used to say in the '50s: Be there, or be square
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