If you have been around the music industry in Busoga, you probably know the name Steven Malagala and have definitely encountered his songs. He is someone rarely omitted at important musical events in Busoga. You can say he is a legend.
In this exclusive interview, Malagala, who is also the Local Council Three chairperson for Irundu Sub County in Buyende district, sat down with Busoga Times editor Baz Waiswa to talk about his musical journey, music in Busoga.
How did you first get into music, and what inspired you to pursue music as a career?
I started this music journey from when I was still in school, around primary five and six and above. I used to play almost all musical instruments, like the drums and the xylophone (embaire), and dance. I used to admire the guitar, but I had no access to it. I used to travel on foot from Bugodha to go for prayers at Fr. Wynad’s church in Kamuli because they had a guitar. But even there, I had no access to it. But I would get an adrenaline rush whenever I saw people playing the guitar. This was during the late 1980s.
After my senior four, I went to Luwero to start working. One time, while I was working as a tax collector, I saw a man, who was called Kyevunze, conducting guitar lessons. He taught me how to play the guitar. He also taught me how to compose, write, and arrange music. At the time, Fred Ssebata was the trending musician.
From there, I returned to Busoga and bought a guitar, and my music journey started. I started singing and performing; that is how I released my first tape (album) in May 1998. The title of the album was ebizibu ebyensi. I followed it up with ensi elikuwaba, omuze ogwobusenguze, ebya dilu, ekikwekabya, and many others until I released the album that has my most famous song called ebintu bisingagana, commonly known as buutu, in 2006.
And here we are today. I recently released a song in which I report to Kyabazinga how morals and cultural values in Busoga are decaying. We have children getting married as early as 14 years, cutting down trees like mangoes, oranges, etc. My latest song is Kyenabwoine ewa Neyimba, which I am launching at my concert on 1st March 2025 at Irundu Town Council, Buyende district.
I am happy that people have now started appreciating Lusoga music. When I started music, people did not support music from Busoga. I am the first Musoga musician to stage a concert in Busoga (ebivela); it used to be Kadongo Kamu artists from Buganda. This has changed. Today we have many Basoga artists.
I have personally mentored many musicians in Busoga, including Abadongole (Hoe & Yazo), Fida Malagala, Aisha Bisambi Biteleka, and many others. Today, I get calls from musicians saying I inspired them.
Who were your biggest musical influences growing up, and which musicians have had the biggest influence on your style?
At the time, we had Fred Ssebata and Paul Kafeero, and those were my favourites. But we also had Dan Mugula and Matia Kakumirizi. But when I was in Luwero, I got to appreciate Herman Basudde’s music. In Busoga, I was inspired by Moses Nabuti, now deceased. He later came to love my music.
What do you consider your strongest musical skill?
What I know about myself is that I am a good creator and composer. I believe there is no one as good as me in Busoga when it comes to composing music. When it comes to instruments, I play the rhythm guitar, and I am so good at it. I am also a great writer of music. I am a good composer and writer of music.
How do your personal experiences influence your music?
The person who taught me how to compose and write music emphasised two life topics—family and life challenges; these are always with us in life. That is why my songs are topical and everlasting.
What qualities do you look for in a person you are going to collaborate with?
Sometimes it his or her vocal abilities, sometimes it is his or her stage presence, or his or words that can make a good composition for people to enjoy.
How has collaboration shaped your music?
I haven’t collaborated with very many people. I am usually collaborating with my wife, Fida. But I have collaborated with Willy Mukabya, the Kadogo Kamu singer. But I have planned collaborations with Kadabada and Uncle Hoe. Other artists are approaching me, and we haven’t concluded.
How do you balance your personal life, politics, and your music career?
Politics is usually during the daytime. And you get to know government programs in advance so you can plan accordingly. However, some political programs are abrupt, which tends to interfere with my music appointments. What helps is that music is in the night. You can do the politics work during the day and rush to catch up with the music at night.
What are your thoughts on the current music industry landscape in Busoga?
It has been moving well. Many people are singing in Lusoga. Today, you can go to a function, and all the music playing is from Busoga. However, we still have a challenge with radio stations. I don’t know if presenters don’t enjoy Lusoga songs. A Musoga presenter can be on a program for hours but doesn’t play a Lusoga song, even when listeners request Lusoga songs.
Can you tell us about a song you’ve written that holds a special meaning for you?
Music is strange. It is like fathering children. You love them all, but you also notice their different good or bad attributes. My favourite song may not be the favourite for many of my fans. I never thought that Buutu would be a hit song; the song on that album that I thought would be a hit was Ndiroka Lwa Sente. But the favourite of my songs is called Otadhelega Mirimu. It came out on the Ekikwekabya album; however, people loved the song Ekikwekabya.
What are some of the challenges of the music business, and how do you navigate them?
People despise us so much, especially at places where we go to perform. People underrate us. They think we are nobodies. But things are changing. The other thing is that people never prioritise music and entertainment in their budgeting. We are the last on their budget list. For example, someone cannot come to a concert before taking their children back to school.
That is why I feel bad when singers disrespect people who have come to concerts to support us. Some of the people who come to our concerts are richer, more respected, and sacrifice a lot to come to our shows.
What changes would you like to see in the music industry?
The change I want among musicians in Busoga is to bring an end to bickering. We need to understand that we are brothers who should start working together. We shouldn’t celebrate when our brothers and sisters get challenges. We should cut down on words and walk together in the line of music.
What advice would you give to emerging artists?
I also implore young musicians to respect their elders in the industry. They should understand that we cleared the path that they are walking in today. Even if we have not given them anything, they should appreciate that we have brought Lusoga music from down to what it is today that they are enjoying.
How has the digital era influenced your music?
Everything has an advantage and a disadvantage. Before the computers came, when recording a song, there was no room for error. An error even when at the end of the song, it meant redoing the song. Today, you only cut out where the mistake is—you basically edit the recording. So, recording music is easier in this digital age.
However today, when you release a song, before you even reach home, the song is already in London. Before you make any money off it, the boys who distribute to people’s memory cards are eating money off your sweat. While you are waiting for a concert to make some money, the music distributor is eating money.
What projects are you currently working on?
First of all, I am a farmer. I have some heads of cattle, a poultry project, and a fruit farm. So, when I am not on the stage, I am able to survive. On the side of music, I have a launch concert titled Kyinabwoine ewa Neyiba; Tewevuma Katondo. On 28th April, we are in Buwologoma in Luuka district and then come to Irundu Town Council on 1st March 2025.
