Benon Kibuuka (Ddube Ssempaata) on performing arts in
Uganda.
Below
is a transcription of a talk Andrew Benon Kibuuka of Bakayimbira gave to the
Rotary Club of Kajjansi on 2nd October 2013.
I have been in
this field of the arts for the last 32 years. I am 50 years old. I started in my senior six vacation. That’s
when I began to be active in theatre otherwise I have been acting for the last 40 years. I
remember my first acting was in my nursery Kisa Nursery School in Kabowa. In
the first year which is now called Baby Class. I was voted the best actor.
Prior to that the best actors would be from top class.
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| PPP Peace hands over a certificate to Andrew Benon Kibuuka |
I am the
president of the federation of Performing Artists in Uganda. We have an organisation. Some people think
that we are very disorganised because some of our people are a bit unruly, but
we are very organised. We have leadership and you can always approach us on
matters of art.
I am more of a
director, though people look at me as an actor, simply because I do both. I
have acted in more than 100 productions,
35 of which have been written and directed by myself. This industry is
challenging because you must dedicate your time. Theater is a very jealousy partner . If you want to be successful in
theatre, you must be married to theatre. You have to forgo some duties. I
rarely attend weekend functions including family gatherings. Simply because I
am married to theatre.
I am rarely at
home. I have a funny experience in that I have never had X-mas nor Easter with
my family. As people take their families out, for us we are busy entertaining them.
So we are your out. That’s the life of an artist.
With leadership
of art, it is a difficult position because some of the artists are a bit very
naughty. You must understand them. It is one of the challenges I have as
president of the federation for the last 7 years. I am one of the founders of
Bakayimbira. We are still moving on with my colleague Charles James Ssenkubuge
Siyasa (almost President) and Aloysisus Matovu Joy. We have been together for
31 years. That’s one of our greatest achievement. When we started, it was very
difficult. Parents would not allow their chi9ldren to join theatre. Even people
doing MDD used to be referred to as Musiru Ddala, Ddala. But now it is Mugezi
ddala, ddala or Mugagga Ddala ddala. Today, parents bring to us their children
so that we train them. We should take art as a profession because it is a
paying job.
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| Andrew Benon Kibuuka {Dube Ssempaata} giving a talk at the Rotary Club of Kajjansi |
When we started,
art was not paying but now it is a paying vocation. When I started, I wrote a
play “Ebibala bya Nantongo”, we put an advert on Radio Uganda. Little did I
know that my father had heard it. When we were acting in the Theatre I saw the
old man there watching because he had heard the radio announcement calling
people to watch a play, called Ebibala bya Nantongo written by Andrew Benon
Kibuuka. He had come to verify that it was his son. He never told me that he
had heard the announcement. At the end he came and congratulated us. He even
gave me a suit.
I thank you for
respecting us now as an Industry. I heard of Rotary Actors. I wonder what plays
interjected by president Magala saying it is Rotaractors. I was going to ask
them for registration in the federation. So in 15 minutes I don’t have much to
offer. I am very happy to be here. I call upon you to spare some time and come
and watch our plays.
Question time:
After his talk, Rotarians
started asking him questions regarding his character on stage. How he has
maintained to keep a low profile despite his celebrity status. The other
question was about his relationship with God. They also asked him about his
family whether one of his children has taken up the arts and a couple of other
questions. They also asked him about roles of intimacy with people who are not
their lovers. There was also a question of dissolving Bakayimbira but later on
they came back to the theatre scene. The funniest question was why he never
pays boda boda men.
Answers:
On the question
of character on stage and outside theatre. I am a professional who fits well in
the role assigned to me. When people throw bottles at me, then I know that the
message has sunk. I have had it more than five times. I was to portray the bad in
society. When I come in as a good person, the viewers can’t appreciate. As an artist, I can fit in well in any
character that’s why I came up with the Dube Character and people wondered.
Artistically I can taken on any role.
With time you cope up. I am educated I can’t
behave like little children. That’s why I am the leader of the artists. I try
to avoid the public as much as possible
not to generate unnecessary commotion. If I can avoid, I always do. I don’t
want to pull unnecessary attention. That’s how I have tried to avoid the press.
I encourage my friends also to do the same.
On the issue of not paying Bodas, Kibuuka
said that he doesn’t because the boda boda people never issue receipts so
accountability becomes a problem.
