Editor’s note: Ugandan music icon Moses Nakintije Ssekibogo, popularly known as Mowzey Radio, passed away on February 1, 2018. He was one half of the dynamic Ugandan singing duo Radio and Weasel, and prior to his death he was one of the most well known Ugandan artistes on the continent. As part of activities to commemorate the second anniversary of his passing we shall feature stories, poems and performances reflecting the impact he had on a young generation of Ugandans.
RADIO
Akaliba akendo
okalabira ku mukonda.
Okuyimba ssinga yali bbinika
Radio yalibadde mukonda.
Bangi abamwekwatako.
Bangi abamuyigilako
okutuuka ku lyengedde.
Akayembe akengedde
ku muti kalabika mangu.
Radio ekitone kye
kyali ng’akayembe,
Kyalabika mangu.
Mangu mangu nga
emitima gyaffe
atandise okuwamba,
Mangu mangu ebibala
nga atandise okunoga.
Wamma “Jennifer njagala
ozine ku mazima,
ge wazinila wali,
ku mbaga ya Julie.”
Ebilwa byelabilwa,
Kati “Jennifer” yafuuka
“throwback.”
Takyali “sweet lady”
kuba obudde twabuzannyisa.
Okufa kwa Radio
tekwatuleka kye kimu.
Abamu twafuna “heart attack.”
Ezikweya zagana okunywera,
twesibamu lesu.
Twalaba amaaso,
nga gajudde amaziga,
Wadde starboy yagezako
okutugamba, “don’t cry,
don’t cry, don’t cry,”
Obusungu twabulaga ssitani;
“Naye ssitani! Obutego tego
bw’otega otega bwaki?!”
Emu,
Bbiri,
Ssatu,
Nnya,
Ennaku zayita
naye Radio tewayita.
Ennaku yatuva ku myoyo,
Yatuva ku maaso,
Wadde, nga Blue*3,
Ennaku ezimu
“we wanna be where you are.”
Tunyumye,
Tuyiiye,
Tuyimbe,
Tuwandiike,
Twogele amazima.
Amazima gakawa naye
Radio watuluma.
Ng’empiso etaluma,
mu mitima watutunga.
Watuva ku maaso
watusigala ku mimwa
nga bigambo.
N’olwekyo
“we’ll always talk and talk
and talk and talk and talk,
about you Radio.”
Azaala ekibi akiwongelera,
Kuba teli atukilidde.
Naye mu kuyimba
Radio wali otukilidde.
BET gwe ne Weasel mutukikilidde,
Ssemazinga mugilaze nti
Gudlyf elina Potential.
Abaali bawakana,
Ekitone kyo bonna
kyabasika nga magnet.
Mwamala ne mufuuka “fitting”
Abatamanyi kukwana
watugondeza obulamu,
Bi “kyane” twabigamba nga kimu,
“you are mi bread and butter”
Okutemya n’okuzibula
nga bi “Hellena” ne bi “Julaina,
Julaina, Julaina”
Byagala tukikole by neera.
Wadde mu kuyimba
tetwalina ability,
Ebigambo byo ng’omwenge
byatutamiza.
Amaziga oyinza obutagalaba,
Naye nga bangi
ng’ebikoola gakunkumuka.
Mu mubiri wazawa,
Mu bulamu bwaffe
ennyimba zo zikyali
ku play list yaffe,
Akayimba bayinnza
okuba bakelabira
“but we’ve never forgotten you.”
© Nsubuga Muhammed (Nze)
