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Albert Ssempeke

Albert Ssempeke

International Touring

2003   Performance in Berlin
1997   European Tour with Master Musicians of Uganda
1996   European Tour with Master Musicians of Uganda
1995   UK Tour with John Ssekitooleko
1994   UK Tour with John Ssekitooleko
1988   Musician in Residence, Edinburgh University

Recordings

The King's Musicians: Royalist Music from Uganda (Topic Records TSCD925)
Music from Uganda 1: Traditional (Caprice Records CAP21495)

An Appreciation of Albert Ssempeke

Albert Ssempeke, who died in July 2006, was an outstanding multi-instrumentalist and teacher, was one of the few contemporary muscians who had knowledge of the former music traditions of the Kingdom of Buganda.

Ssempeke first began playing the endere flute when he was 11 years old. Together with his younger brother Ludoviko Sserwanga, Ssempeke took lessons from one of the Kabaka's royal flute players, who lived close by. Amazed by the young brothers' abilities, the abalere ba kabaka (royal flute band) began inviting them to join in performance at large functions, such as on the Kabaka's birthday.

After the kingdoms were abolished in 1968 by Milton Obote, most royal musicians refused to play royal music anymore, as a form of protest. Two decades later, most of the Abalere ba Kabaka were dead, or too old to play. During this period of instability, Ssempeke found work as a singer and endongo (lyre) player with the many traditional wedding groups based around Kampala, with his brother joining on the endingidi (fiddle). Ssempeke also toured the world with the group Heartbeat of Africa.

In 1987, Albert Ssempeke met with ethnomusicologist Peter Cooke and his son Andy Cooke, and was invited to be musician in residence at Edinburgh University. This led on to opportunities to tour in the UK and in Europe, and Ssempeke's group gave memorable performances at WOMAD festival and elsewhere.

Ssempeke's music survives today in the skills of his family. His brother Ludoviko Sserwanga might well be the last remaining skilled player of the royal endere flute. He is also a master of the endingidi tube fiddle. Ssempeke's sons, Albert Bisaso and John Ssekitoleko are skilled players of the endongo lyre, and Bisaso is a keen player of the ennanga harp.

Recordings made by Peter Cooke of Albert Ssempeke were released recently on the cd "The King's Musicians: Royalist Music from Uganda".

Ssempeke's family are available for

Email:  albertbisaso@yahoo.com