George Wilberforce Kakoma
Encyclopedia
Professor George Wilberforce Kakoma (born 1925) is a graduate of Trinity College of Music
and Durham University
who composed Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty
, Uganda
's national anthem
.
Prior to Uganda's independence
, three sub-committees were established to deal with Uganda’s national symbols
. The sub-committee for the creation of a national anthem encouraged Ugandans to submit their proposals.
In July 1963, the committee chose Kakoma's composition. It had taken him a day to compose the music and lyrics for Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty.
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
and Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
who composed Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty
Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty
"Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty" is the Ugandan national anthem. It was adopted in 1962, with words and music by George Wilberforce Kakoma. The anthem is one of the shortest in the world, and is occasionally performed twice in a row to lengthen it.-Lyrics:...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
.
Prior to Uganda's independence
Early independent Uganda
The history of Uganda from 1962 through 1971 comprises the history of Uganda from Ugandan independence from the United Kingdom to the rise of the dictator Idi Amin....
, three sub-committees were established to deal with Uganda’s national symbols
National symbols
A national symbol is a symbol of any entity considering itself and manifesting itself to the world as a national community – namely sovereign states, but also nations and countries in a state of colonial or other dependence, federal integration, or even an ethnocultural community considered a...
. The sub-committee for the creation of a national anthem encouraged Ugandans to submit their proposals.
- "The compositions had to be short, original, solemn, praising and looking forward to the future. They had to be harmonised in the usual four parts-soprano, alto, tenor and bass," said Kakoma in an interview.
In July 1963, the committee chose Kakoma's composition. It had taken him a day to compose the music and lyrics for Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty.
Publications
- George W. Kakoma, Songs from Buganda, Univ. of London Press, London 1969, ISBN 0-340-09438-9