A Ugandan Musician a Woman with heart - touching Africa - Uganda - with the Message of her Music and Songs

Sarah Ndagire, what can one say with mere words?  I met her in November of 2007 in Kampala, a sort of chance meeting, but then you often meet someone special when you do not expect it.

Bright, intelligent, witty, a sense of humor, Ugandan sensitivity, lots of grace, a caring compassion that was evident as she spoke of people, as she spoke of children. 

As I listened to her she struck me as someone who could sit under the ancient tree in a village and simply tell stories, a gift that many Africans have.  I did not hear her sing until some days later, but as she spoke there was a sort of almost poetic touch to her words that rang home.

A few hours later we dropped her off near her home and as she left she gifted me with her latest CD called Train. 

Ugandan music that sells in Uganda is usually music you dance too, Sarah Ndagire tells stories, and my favorite is her song “African Woman.”  As she sings the song you can almost see it before you.  She brings life to her words with energy and vibrancy of spirit, she is a teller of stories, but there is still enough rhythm in her songs that you will find it easy to dance to, I have. 

Sarah Ndagire is a young woman, but yet she is woman with a lot of history in the recording industry in Uganda, her music has played on radio, her concerts well attended, and when one listens there is a message.  I would call her a sort of Uganda Tracy Chapman, one who also tells a story with the songs that she sings. 

Africa is a different world than the west.  In the rest of the world we read information, we read stories, books, in Africa there are books, there is written information but there is something else, we sit under the ancient tree as the story teller uses words to weave a tapestry in one’s mind with his or her words.  Sarah is like that; with her music she tells the stories of life in Africa.  When you watch one of her videos you will find her whole being as part of the story telling, her hands move, her face is like a picture book, and her whole body is a part of the telling of the African stories. 

Children love to hear Sarah speak and sing, they relate to her, relate to the characters in her tales, love the gentle rhythm of her songs and the words that allow children to see the possibilities in life. 

Sarah like many African, Ugandan people could become part of the Diaspora of talented people, musicians who leave Africa and turn to the West; she has chosen to remain there in Uganda to sing the stories of life there, to impart something of what she sees within herself to the world around her.   

In the short time I spent with her, I was simply impressed with a woman determined to touch her world of Uganda.  That quiet inner strength that is so much Sarah Ndagire leaves an impact on you, long after you have met her.  Her music does the same, you may not understand the languages that she sings in, but you can catch the spirit of what she is saying simply by listening to the song. 

You never know who you will meet in life; I am glad I met the person called Sarah Ndagire, a woman who is impacting Africa and Uganda particular with her meaningful music…jon

Below is a link to listen and buy her music from the "Katiitiira" Album

Then there is album "Train"...simply delightful

And now a simple plug that is unsolicited but will do a lot of good.  If you like to buy some of Sarah's Music you can do so on line at the below places as indicated.  Thank you...

Below is a video of Sarah called "Olikomeyo"

Just one more for you to show Sarah's diversity and is titled

 "Katitiira"