Biography
During the Idi Amin era, Mutebi ranked among the small handful of Ugandan musicians who sustained active careers. Local figures such as Tabu Ley and Franco, together with overseas artists including the Beatles, Jim Reeves, and Cliff Richard, shaped his approach; from these sources he forged “kadonkam,” his own blend of indigenous rhythms and C&W. His ensemble also performed an assortment of widely popular dance-band idioms. The first recordings under his name appeared in 1972 and moved briskly despite the poverty and unrest then prevailing in Uganda. That audience loyalty persists today, and Mutebi continues to anticipate political and economic shifts that would better support growth of the country’s music sector.
Albums