Iryn Namubiru
Encyclopedia
Iryn Namubiru, also known as Irene Namubiru is a female, Uganda
n performing artist, resident in Paris
, France
.
. Namubiru attended several educational institutions, including:
While at Namasagali College, Iryn met another current female, Ugandan, performing artist, who was attending the college at the same time; Juliana Kanyomozi
. They became friends.
since her childhood and always strove to make this talent a bigger part of her life. Her first major attempt at success in the music industry came in 1995 when she joined singers Ragga Dee and Messe
to release a single. Soon after wards, she had her first stage appearance in September 1995.
In 1999, she joined Juliana Kanyomozi
, her former school mate at Namasagali College, and together they formed the R&B all-girl group called I-Jay. In 2000, they released their first single which got 'moderate' air play on radio station
s in Uganda
.
Soon after the release of their record, Iryn left for France
and the group disbanded. This break up would later lead to wide speculation that the two separated on unfriendly terms although they both denied such rumors. While in France, she formed the Afro-Soul group Nujeli together with Julien Grout and they released songs like Nsangi, Eko, Ensi and Baami Baffe. But these songs were not successful in Uganda. Later on, Iryn joined forces with singer Bebe Cool
in the songs Simbalala and Lwaki Onzannyilako?.
However, Iryn didn't achieve widespread success until 2006 when she released her album Nkuweeki?. This marked the beginning of her fast rise to be one of the best female musicians in Uganda. Since 2006, Iryn Namubiru has released several successful songs like Y'ono, Lwaki, Bonna Obasinga " Begombeko", " Birowoozo", which have earned her several leading awards in the Ugandan music industry. In 2011, Iryn capped her most successful year ever by winning in four categories of the 2011 PAM(Pearl of Africa Music) Awards. She won in the categories of Artist of the year, Female Artist of the year, Album of the year and Best RnB single of the year.
s and at times, her concerts. Her critics charge that her costumes go against the traditional Ugandan way of dressing and set a bad example for other aspiring musicians. In 2009, her video for the hugely successful Bonna Obasinga was panned by several people, several of them fans, for going too far with the swimming costume she wore. She later decided to shoot another video for the song to placate her critics. However, many of her fans have defended her "creative" dressing against such accusations and blame them on those who are still socially backward and are not willing to try out new styles.
, and together, they have two sons. She is fluent in English
, French
and Luganda, her native tongue. She balances her career between her family in France
, where she lives, and Uganda
, where most of her music fans reside.
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 performing artist, resident in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 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...
.
Background
She was born in Central UgandaCentral Region, Uganda
Central Region is a region of Uganda. It is coterminous with the Kingdom of Buganda, one of the ancient African monarchies that are constitutionally recognised in Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. Namubiru attended several educational institutions, including:
- Bugema Adventist Senior Secondary School, in Luweero District
- Namasagali CollegeNamasagali CollegeNamasagali College, is a mixed boarding middle and high school located in Kamuli District in Eastern Uganda.-Location:The school is situated on a campus at Namasagali, approximately , by road, northwest of the town of Kamuli, where the district headquarters are located. The school campus sits on...
, in Kamuli DistrictKamuli DistrictKamuli District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town' of Kamuli.-Location:Kamuli District is bordered by Buyende Districtto the north, Luuka District to the east, Jinja District to the south and Kayunga District to the west...
, - Airways Tourism & Hotel Institute and
- Stendhal University in GrenobleGrenobleGrenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, FranceFranceThe 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...
.
While at Namasagali College, Iryn met another current female, Ugandan, performing artist, who was attending the college at the same time; Juliana Kanyomozi
Juliana Kanyomozi
Juliana Kanyomozi, popularly known by the mononym Juliana, is a Ugandan female musician, entertainer and actress.-Background:She was born in Uganda on 27 November 1981. She attended Namasagali College in Kamuli District, for her high school education....
. They became friends.
Music career
According to Iryn, she has always had a passion for singingSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
since her childhood and always strove to make this talent a bigger part of her life. Her first major attempt at success in the music industry came in 1995 when she joined singers Ragga Dee and Messe
Messé
Messé is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.-References:*...
to release a single. Soon after wards, she had her first stage appearance in September 1995.
In 1999, she joined Juliana Kanyomozi
Juliana Kanyomozi
Juliana Kanyomozi, popularly known by the mononym Juliana, is a Ugandan female musician, entertainer and actress.-Background:She was born in Uganda on 27 November 1981. She attended Namasagali College in Kamuli District, for her high school education....
, her former school mate at Namasagali College, and together they formed the R&B all-girl group called I-Jay. In 2000, they released their first single which got 'moderate' air play on radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s in 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...
.
Soon after the release of their record, Iryn left for 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...
and the group disbanded. This break up would later lead to wide speculation that the two separated on unfriendly terms although they both denied such rumors. While in France, she formed the Afro-Soul group Nujeli together with Julien Grout and they released songs like Nsangi, Eko, Ensi and Baami Baffe. But these songs were not successful in Uganda. Later on, Iryn joined forces with singer Bebe Cool
Bebe Cool
Bebe Cool is a ragga musician from Uganda. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi, Kenya, but a few years later he moved back to his native country...
in the songs Simbalala and Lwaki Onzannyilako?.
However, Iryn didn't achieve widespread success until 2006 when she released her album Nkuweeki?. This marked the beginning of her fast rise to be one of the best female musicians in Uganda. Since 2006, Iryn Namubiru has released several successful songs like Y'ono, Lwaki, Bonna Obasinga " Begombeko", " Birowoozo", which have earned her several leading awards in the Ugandan music industry. In 2011, Iryn capped her most successful year ever by winning in four categories of the 2011 PAM(Pearl of Africa Music) Awards. She won in the categories of Artist of the year, Female Artist of the year, Album of the year and Best RnB single of the year.
Controversies
Iryn Namubiru has been widely criticized by her detractors for dressing "inappropriately" in her music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s and at times, her concerts. Her critics charge that her costumes go against the traditional Ugandan way of dressing and set a bad example for other aspiring musicians. In 2009, her video for the hugely successful Bonna Obasinga was panned by several people, several of them fans, for going too far with the swimming costume she wore. She later decided to shoot another video for the song to placate her critics. However, many of her fans have defended her "creative" dressing against such accusations and blame them on those who are still socially backward and are not willing to try out new styles.
Personal life
Iryn is married to Julien Groult, a FrenchmanFrance
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...
, and together, they have two sons. She is fluent 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...
, 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...
and Luganda, her native tongue. She balances her career between her family 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 she lives, and 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...
, where most of her music fans reside.