Samite - Soul of Africa

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What People Are Saying About Samite

CRANKY CROW
" If a humanitarian award existed for musicians, there would be a long list of choices. To me a humanitarian is someone that has endured political, economic or other strife and instead of growing bitter from the experience, open his or her heart to ignite a project for the betterment of this planet. Ugandan born musician and songwriter Samite Mulondo comes to mind. This exiled musician fled Uganda in 1982 and set up home in Kenya where he performed with the popular African heritage band, Bacchus Club Jazz Band. Eventually he settled in Ithaca, New York where he currently resides. In 1982, Samite lost his homeland, but most recently he lost his wife to brain cancer. While both of those losses can be felt wholeheartedly on Samite's 6th solo recording, Tunula Eno, this CD was recorded during the last stages of his wife Joan's illness so the album is a gorgeous tribute to her... "
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BILLBOARD
"Samite wraps his warm voice around melodies that seem to rise up off the Ugandan plateau, caressed by his kalimbas and other native instruments."

NEW YORK TIMES
"When Samite translated his songs, their serenity seemed almost miraculous."

LA WEEKLY
"transcends African musical and territorial frontiers to create a new sound...it will touch your heart"

NEW YORK POST
....finely interweaves classical guitar, voice and the haunting plucked metal tones of the kalimba...a magnificent piece of music with an ancient quality to it.

LA TIMES
"The multiple rhythms are forceful but not domineering, and Samite's melodies ride over and through them to create a soothing, almost lullaby-like effect. It's modern African folk music..."

REGGAE AND AFRICAN BEAT MAGAZINE
"a master of flute amd a terrific vocalist...authentically Ugandan and its exemplary in its entirety."

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"When you hear the music of Samite, the soul of Africa is revealed to you."
- Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo

"Samite is a superb musician . . . he has stories to tell we all need to hear."
- Pete Seeger

"When Samite translated his songs, their serenity seemed almost miraculous."
- Jon Pareles, The New York Times

"Working with Samite and his music was a great and rare pleasure . . . Anyone who can make a German like me dance the way Samite had me dancing deserves some sort of an award."
- Will Ackerman, Imaginary Road Studios, Vermont

"Gas prices, election-year politics, lousy weather--whatever has you feeling down, Ugandan expatriate Samite has the cure. . . .He speaks more about passion and love with a few scat syllables than most singers can convey with a whole song."
- Dave Becker, Oakland Tribune

"The multiple rhythms are forceful but not domineering, and Samite's melodies ride over and through them to create a soothing, almost lullaby-like effect. It's modern African folk music . . ."
- Don Snowden, Los Angeles Times

"Although one of Samite's kalimbas was no larger than two cigarette packs, when amplified it revealed an enfolding timbre and interweaving complexity that Philip Glass would be hard pressed to replicate. His eight-number performance earned two standing ovations."
- Jim Washburn, Los Angeles Times

"Singing in Luganda, Samite uses his sweet tenor to recall the lush countryside he left behind when he fled Uganda's civil strife." "It's almost a shame to confine Ugandan singer Samite to a stage. His music should be danced to!"
- The Philadelphia Inquirer

"The particularly gifted Samite of Uganda is a master of flute and a terrific vocalist . . . his music is authentically Ugandan and its exemplary in its entirety."
- Dave Hucker, Reggae and African Beat Magazine

"The evening's great surprise was Samite . . . his great magic was turning the entire hall into his instrument. Eyes flashing, he wooed the audience into the resonance of his circle."
- Peggy Haine, The Ithaca Journal

"Samite of Uganda is not only a multi-talented musician, but he possesses something more--taste."
- Gene Endres, Ithaca Times

Cranky Crow

If a humanitarian award existed for musicians, there would be a long list of choices. To me a humanitarian is someone that has endured political, economic or other strife and instead of growing bitter from the experience, open his or her heart to ignite a project for the betterment of this planet. Ugandan born musician and songwriter Samite Mulondo comes to mind. This exiled musician fled Uganda in 1982 and set up home in Kenya where he performed with the popular African heritage band, Bacchus Club Jazz Band. Eventually he settled in Ithaca, New York where he currently resides. In 1982, Samite lost his homeland, but most recently he lost his wife to brain cancer. While both of those losses can be felt wholeheartedly on Samite's 6th solo recording, Tunula Eno, this CD was recorded during the last stages of his wife Joan's illness so the album is a gorgeous tribute to her.

However, you won't find bitter laments on this recording. Samite's joy for life, warm sense of humor, love for storytelling and masterful musicianship takes center stage. When Samite does make a social statement as on the song, Obubaka, he asks political leaders to take their roles seriously and he reminds them that they are responsible for the children of the world who deserve a safe place to play, food in their bellies and songs to sing. Samite's own childhood memories and his discovery of traditional music of Uganda surfaces on Emengo, an upbeat song complimented by Samite's warm tenor vocals, flute and kalimba. This collection of songs features electric and acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion. The traditional song, Agalilala brings lush vocal harmonies to the pot that recalls Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa. Most of the songs are sung in Samite's mother tongue, Luganda, but he sings in his dream language, "Esadayelo" on Maama Yi Baaba.

Certainly listeners will appreciate the beautiful music that appears on this CD and they will also appreciate Samite's funny stories. For instance, Mwatu comes with a comical tale. In Samite's culture when a man wants to marry a woman he promises her that he will bring meat to the table each day. But, in Ithaca, New York, the women are mostly vegetarian so if a man wants to marry one of these New Yorkers, he had better bring sprout and tofu to the table. Bringing meat clearly won't do the trick. And yes, I chuckled to myself a few times when reading the CD liner notes. I also felt my eyes drawing tears when I read the English translations of songs Samite wrote for his late wife. Yet, I am moved by Samite's humanity and not depressed by his grief.

The humanitarian Samite started the non-profit organization, Musicians for World Harmony to, "enable musicians throughout the world to share their music to promote peace, understanding and harmony among peoples with a special emphasis on the displaced or distressed." A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to this organization. Please visit http://www.musiciansforworldharmony.org to learn more about this project or to make a donation.