Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 8, 2002
Sebidde Kiryowa
He blazed the trail. Earlier on this year, a group of young artists -- The Obsessions dance troupe and singer Kaweesa teamed up with then Miss Uganda Vict-oria Nabunya, River-smith International and the Ministry of Health and took their battle against AIDS to adolescents in schools.
Perhaps inspired by these prior efforts, the Musicians Club '89 has joined in the fight. They are organising a concert, code-named 'The Musicfight Against The Stigma Of AIDS' in collaboration with the Uganda Aids Commission. The aim of the concert is to raise money to make a contribution towards the reduction of, and the eventual elimination of the stigma of AIDS in Uganda.
The concert is slated for December 1, 2002, which is the World AIDS Day, at Hotel Africana in Kololo for a fee that is still under negotiation. The show will start at 4.00pm till 10.30pm. The extravaganza will feature performances by some of Uganda's biggest and legendary acts like Afrigo band, the Big Five, Five Star, Misty Band, Percussion Discussion Africa, KADS band, Rachael Magoola, Simba Sound, Slash Band, Jimmy Katumba and Elly Wamala and the Juniors.
The club was started in 1989, to unite musicians so that their needs could be addressed. Over the years, the club has assisted musicians during time of bereavement and illness, travel, recording and other problems faced by musicians in Uganda.
One of the club's activities is the Monday night 'Jam Session', which provides a platform for amateur and upcoming musicians to perform with their more experienced counterparts. During these sessions, musicians also exchange ideas, experiences and expertise, and jam together.
"... no matter how much money is put into other areas of AIDS, there is not much that can be done if the stigma is not reduced and eventually eliminated," read a statement issued by the concert's publicity committee.
To complement the concert, there will be a photographic exhibition of the living and the late musicians, and their fight against the AIDS stigma in Uganda.
The exhibition will also feature information pamphlets, booklets and brochures from the Uganda AIDS Commission.
"We will have scre-ens to show video clips of some of the late musicians like Philly Lutaaya, Dede Kajoro, Tony Sengo... there will be a candle light moment, during which a song on Aids will be sung, followed by a speech by the Director General of the Uganda AIDS Commission," the statement read.
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