Ugandan singer Geoffrey Oryema has passed on Friday evening.
Oryema commonly known for his song Land of Anaka passed on in Europe where he has been living ever since he and family flee to exile in 1977.
Oryema’s passing was announced by another Ugandan artiste, Joel Sebunjo on social media.
“Sad news for Ugandan Music .. African Music.. World Music.. The legend Geoffrey Oryema has passed on !! What a tragedy .. in September this year we had plans to record Lyon France; unfortunately, it didn’t come to pass. Condolences to his family, friends & fans all over the world. This man is a true Ugandan Legend. rest in peace Big tree,” Ssebunjo posted.
Several Ugandans have already taken to social media to send condolences to the music icon.
Geoffrey Oryema, born 16 April 1953 in Soroti, is an internationally renowned Ugandan musician. In 1977 after the murder of his father, Erinayo Oryema who was a cabinet minister in the government of Amin he began his life in exile. At the age of 24, and at the height of Idi Amin’s power, Oryema was smuggled across the Ugandan border in the trunk of a car.
Oryema’s mother was a director of the national dance company called The Heartbeat of Africa.
Geoffrey’s family was immersed in Uganda’s traditional cultures and were storytellers, poets and musicians. As a teenager, Geoffrey wrote songs and learned how to play the guitar, flute and lukeme (a metal thumb-piano).
In the early 70s, Geoffrey’s ambition was to be an actor and he enrolled in Uganda’s Drama School of Academy. He founded an African drama company, Theatre Limited, the first Academy of Dramatic Arts and professional theatre troupe of its kind in East and Central Africa in the 70s.
Geoffrey studied drama and specialised in the methods of acting pioneered by Konstantin Stanislavsky and Grotosky’s avant-garde methods of acting. Mixing these techniques with traditional African theatre, the result was a very original ‘theatre of the absurd’, embellished by African tribal sounds and improvisation.
In the mid 70s, the fortunes of the Oryema family took a serious downturn. Oryema’s father, a minister in Idi Amin’s government, was killed in February 1977. Geoffrey and several members of his family decided to flee the country in fear of their own lives. With the help of friends, Geoffrey was smuggled across the border to Kenya in the trunk of a car. After a long and arduous journey, Geoffrey ended up in Paris where he settled and learned French.
Geoffrey found a receptive audience to his music and he developed a huge range of musical styles. He incorporated the traditional music of Uganda with the western music of the 80s.
In 1989, Geoffrey was spotted by a representative from WOMAD Festival looking for talent in Paris. This led to an introduction to Peter Gabriel and his Real World label, who arranged for Geoffrey to work with the eminent producer Brian Eno. Together they made the album Exile, which was based on Geoffrey’s experiences as a youth in Uganda. It brought critical acclaim and established Geoffrey’s reputation as a significant African singer-songwriter.
In 1990, Geoffrey performed at the Nelson Mandela concert, An International Tribute for a Free South Africa, held at Wembley Stadium in the UK. It was held two months after Mandela’s release from prison. He sang alongside an impressive line-up of stars including Lou Reed, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman, Terence Trent D’Arby and Youssou N’Dour.
Geoffrey embarked on a globe trotting adventure with the WOMAD world music festivals in Australia, the USA, Japan, Brazil and Europe.
In 1993, Geoffrey returned to Real World Studios to Beat the Border with producers Bob Ezrin and David Bottrill.
In 1994, Geoffrey played a benefit concert for Amnesty International in Boston USA for the charity’s campaign to raise awareness and put a stop to child slavery and torture. Other participating artists and guests included Peter Gabriel, Sting, Bruce Springstein, Tracy Chapman, Michael Stipe (R.E.M), Trudie Styler (Film Director and President The Rain Forest Foundation).
In 1996, Geoffrey recorded his third album, Night to Night, sung primarily in French and English, with masterful musicianship and wonderful melodies.
After this, Geoffrey moved to Sony International. He moved away from Paris for the quieter life in the west of France.
In 2000, Geoffrey released Spirit.
In July 2005, Geoffrey performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling concert in Cornwall, and with 1 Giant Leap at the Live 8 Edinburgh concert.
Since 2005, Geoffrey has been touring the world performing to large audiences and a few intimate solo shows. These include The Creation of Peace Festival in Kazan, Russia, where he played to 200,000 people; two concerts at the United Nations in New York; and a prestigious concert for the Cinema For Peace Award Ceremony at the historic Konzerthaus in Berlin.
Geoffrey released From The Heart in 2010 (Long Tale Recordings) and is working on another album for release in 2017.
Geoffrey’s music has featured in Hollywood films, most notably Un Indien Dans La Ville (1994), Bedazzled (2000), I Dreamed Of Africa (2000) and The Last Face (2016)
Profile adopted from Oryema’s official website
