The Search For A Lost Ugandan Opera

Mugabi Turya traces the forgotten legacy of pioneering composer Solomon Mbabi Katana.

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20250119

Mugabi Turya traces the forgotten legacy of pioneering Ugandan composer and scholar Solomon Mbabi Katana, and his place in the wider story of opera in postcolonial Africa.

On July 14 1968, just six years after Uganda gained its independence, the New York Times ran an article headlined, 'Uganda's Opera Success at Home'. 'The Marriage of Nyakato' was written by Katana, who skilfully combined musical elements from his tribal heritage and European classical training, and performed over four crowded nights at the National Theater in Kampala.

It was a lightning in a bottle moment; an international review of a landmark moment at the birth of a new nation. But now, over 60 years later, Uganda's opera scene has seemingly never lived up to that early post-independence promise - and Katana's composition has never re-surfaced.

As Mugabi goes on a global search for the missing work, he uncovers the hidden history of 'African opera', meets the contemporary composers continuing that journey today, and questions the value of cultural legacy for a nation.

Including contribution from:

Lawrence Barasa, opera singer and former member of the Kenyan Boys Choir

Katy Ehrlich, librarian at the BBC Music Archive

Helen Epega, artist and composer of Song Queen: A Pidgin Opera

David Isingoma, son of Solomon Mbabi Katana

Sam Kasule, professor of Postcolonial Theatre and Performance at the University of Derby

Bongani Ndodana-Breen, composer of Winnie: The Opera

Olabode Omojola, composer and professor of ethnomusicology at Five Colleges, USA

Dave Pier ethnomusicologist from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Producer: Becca Bryers

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Series	First Broadcast	Comments
	20250119	Mugabi Turya traces the forgotten legacy of pioneering Ugandan composer and scholar Solomon Mbabi Katana, and his place in the wider story of opera in postcolonial Africa. On July 14 1968, just six years after Uganda gained its independence, the New York Times ran an article headlined, 'Uganda's Opera Success at Home'. 'The Marriage of Nyakato' was written by Katana, who skilfully combined musical elements from his tribal heritage and European classical training, and performed over four crowded nights at the National Theater in Kampala. It was a lightning in a bottle moment; an international review of a landmark moment at the birth of a new nation. But now, over 60 years later, Uganda's opera scene has seemingly never lived up to that early post-independence promise - and Katana's composition has never re-surfaced. As Mugabi goes on a global search for the missing work, he uncovers the hidden history of 'African opera', meets the contemporary composers continuing that journey today, and questions the value of cultural legacy for a nation. Including contribution from: Lawrence Barasa, opera singer and former member of the Kenyan Boys Choir Katy Ehrlich, librarian at the BBC Music Archive Helen Epega, artist and composer of Song Queen: A Pidgin Opera David Isingoma, son of Solomon Mbabi Katana Sam Kasule, professor of Postcolonial Theatre and Performance at the University of Derby Bongani Ndodana-Breen, composer of Winnie: The Opera Olabode Omojola, composer and professor of ethnomusicology at Five Colleges, USA Dave Pier ethnomusicologist from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Producer: Becca Bryers [LISTEN NOW]