Joanita Kawalya

Joanita Kawalya
Born (1967-05-01) 1 May 1967 (age 57)
Uganda
NationalityUgandan
EducationLubiri Secondary School
Alma materKyambogo University
OccupationMusician
SpouseChristopher Muganga

Joanita Kawalya is a Ugandan musician and activist.[1] She is a member of the Afrigo Band[citation needed], the longest-lasting musical band in Uganda, which has been in continuous existence since 1975.[2][3]

Early life and education

Kawalya was born to the late singer Eclaus Kawalya on 5 January 1967.[4] She worked as a teacher at Lubiri Senior Secondary School between 1989 and 1993.[5]

Music career

Kawalya started singing at an early age. She went on to sing in choir in school and later as a part time member of "The Wrens", courtesy of her father's guest performances with the band. He would take the whole family with him. She joined Afrigo Band[citation needed] in 1986 when she was nineteen-year-old, replacing her sister, Margaret, also a vocalist who was leaving for Germany. She did music as she did a teaching course at Kyambogo University In 1993, she quit teaching and concentrated on music and mothering her two children.[6]

Other responsibilities

She has served as a community advisory member on the National Aids project, the Walter Reed project[7] and the Makerere Johns Hopkins joint project. She has also been involved in grass root campaigns for HIV/AIDS and her face is now recognizable as one of the facilitators for the Nabagereka's annual cultural fete, the Kisakaate. Kawalya is also involved in mentorship of talent.[6]

In 2020, Kawalya participated in the gender identity week organized by Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies[8]

Family

Joanita Kawalya is a mother of two children.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mulumba, Abu-Baker (7 March 2010). "Joanita Kawalya Reckons Women Can Do It Better Than Men". The Observer. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. ^ Musinguzi, Bamuturaki (12 September 2013). "Kampala's Most Resilient Band Afrigo Plays On". The EastAfrican (Nairobi). Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. ^ Zziwa, Hassan Badru (17 February 2013). "Afrigo: 38 And Still Counting". The Observer. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Hits That Made Them: Moses Matovu And Afrigo Band". Hipipo.com. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. ^ Lutwama, Samuel (26 September 2010). "Joanita Kawalya: Afrigo Band Musician". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ^ a b Wanjiru Wanjala, Christine (19 May 2012). "Joanita Kawalya: Afrigo's First Lady". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Makerere University Walter Reed Project". muwrp.org. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Gender Identity Week: Cultural, religious leaders believe positive cultural aspects play a big role in empowering women". Watchdog Uganda. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.