Geoffrey Oryema
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Oryema is an internationally renowned Uganda
n musician. In 1977, at the age of 24 and at the height of Idi Amin
's power, Oryema was smuggled across the Ugandan border in the trunk of a car, after the death of his father, Erinayo Wilson Oryema
, who was a cabinet minister, beginning a life in exile. Today his songs keep alive the languages of his youth - Swahili
and Acholi
and return to the lost country - the 'clear green land' of Uganda.
Oryema earned his international reputation following the release of his second album, Beat the Border. He has collaborated with, amongst others, Peter Gabriel
. Gabriel's record label, Real World
, helped with the first three of Oryema's albums, until his move to Sony International, a label established in France
where Oryema resides since his exile. Besides his two native languagues mentioned earlier, he also sings in English
and French
.
On July 2005, he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling
concert in Cornwall
, and with 1 Giant Leap
at the Live 8 Edinburgh concert.
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...
n musician. In 1977, at the age of 24 and at the height of Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
's power, Oryema was smuggled across the Ugandan border in the trunk of a car, after the death of his father, Erinayo Wilson Oryema
Erinayo Wilson Oryema
Erinayo Wilson Oryema was Uganda's first African Inspector General of Police , Minister of Land, Mineral, and Water Resources and Minister of Land, Housing and Physical Planning...
, who was a cabinet minister, beginning a life in exile. Today his songs keep alive the languages of his youth - Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
and Acholi
Acholi language
Acholi is a language primarily spoken by the Acholi people in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, a region known as Acholiland in northern Uganda. Acholi is also spoken in the southern part of the Opari District of South Sudan...
and return to the lost country - the 'clear green land' of Uganda.
Oryema earned his international reputation following the release of his second album, Beat the Border. He has collaborated with, amongst others, Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. Gabriel's record label, Real World
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
, helped with the first three of Oryema's albums, until his move to Sony International, a label established in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where Oryema resides since his exile. Besides his two native languagues mentioned earlier, he also sings in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
On July 2005, he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling
Live 8 concert, Eden Project
On July 2, 2005, a Live 8 concert was held at the Eden Project, Cornwall, England. The event was dubbed "Africa Calling", but was also known as "LIVE 8: Africa Calling" or "Africa Calling: LIVE 8 at the Eden Project"....
concert in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and with 1 Giant Leap
1 Giant Leap
1 Giant Leap is a concept band and media project consisting of the two principal artists, Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman.-Information:...
at the Live 8 Edinburgh concert.
Discography
- ExileExile (Geoffrey Oryema album)Exile is Ugandan artist Geoffrey Oryema's debut album. It was produced by Brian Eno at Real World Studios and released in 1990.Exile designates Oryema himself who had to escape his country after his father was assassinated in 1977, during the rule of Idi Amin. Many of the songs contain nostalgia...
(1990) - Beat the BorderBeat the BorderBeat the Border is the second studio album from Ugandan artist Geoffrey Oryema. It was released in 1993 through the Real World label.Notable collaborators to Oryema on this album include Jean-Pierre Alarcen , Brian Eno, Manu Katché and Ayub Ogada.The album evokes the spirit and culture of Africa...
(1993) - Night to Night (1996)
- Spirit (2000)
- The Odysseus/Best Of (2002)
- Words (2004)
- Masters at Work (Piri Wango Iya - Rise Ashen's Morning Come Mix)(2004)
- From The HeartFrom the HeartFrom the Heart was a greatest hits album by the British quartet Another Level released on 1 June 2002.-Track listing:#"Freak Me"#"From The Heart"#"Bomb Diggy"#"Be Alone No More" #"Holding Back The Years"...
(Released on Long Tale Recordings) (2010)