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 2^nd 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.

PPP Peace hands over a certificate to Andrew Benon Kibuuka

My first play in senior six was the road by Wole Soyinka. We did this to enable us pass our exams but then we got interested. After my senior six exams I joined a certain Drama Group and I have never looked back.

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.

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.