Ever heard a “mzungu” trying to speak any local language? What about singing? That would simply be the perfect script for a comedy show! However, Deena has defied the odds! To say Deena is enthralling is an understatement! If surprise has a maternal lineage, then Deena’s music career is the mother of surprises! Okay let me calm down!
For starters, Deena is a German. She has dedicated her music career to singing in local dialects; Luganda, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili. To the surprise and amusement of all first time listeners, she sings perfectly in Luganda. Yes, her German roots do not mask Luganda phonetics with a foreign accent. While some artists are adopting accents, Deena is having a laugh!
“Kankuleke” opens with brief adlibs, before Deena starts off with the first verse. She does not sing about Deutschland or the grandiose high tech Berlin. She sings about love. As the title suggests –“I’m leaving you”- she sings about unfaithful lover.
While one would expect her to have a blatant vocabulary, her verses are well developed and adventurous. Her sultry voice, croons on and on as she weaves in and out her lyrics. The chorus stitches the verses that overflow with emotions of a mind that’s already made up to move on. As such, the song is not therapeutic to a broken heart but reassurance that walking away is the best foot forward. Digitally generated pulsations of a drum sandwiched by fruity loops of a piano garnished the message in a familiar sound characteristic of Ugandan band music. Impressive!
Watch “Kankuleke” video below.
Staff Writer
