Joanita Kawalya is a Ugandan musician and activist.[1] She is a member of the Afrigo Band[citation needed], the longest-lasting musical band in Uganda, which has been in continuous existence since 1975.[2][3]
Joanita Kawalya | |
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Born | (1967-05-01) 1 May 1967 (age 55) Uganda |
Nationality | Ugandan |
Education | lubiri secondary school |
Alma mater | kyambogo University |
Occupation | Musician |
Spouse(s) | Christopher Muganga |
Kawalya was born to the late singer Eclaus Kawalya on 5 January 1967.[4] She worked as a teacher at Lubiri Senior Secondary School between 1989 and 1993.[5]
Kawalya started singing at an early age. She went on to sing in choir in school and later as a part time member of "The Wrens", courtesy of her father's guest performances with the band. He would take the whole family with him. She joined Afrigo Band[citation needed] in 1986 when she was nineteen-year-old, replacing her sister, Margaret, also a vocalist who was leaving for Germany. She did music as she did a teaching course at Kyambogo University In 1993, she quit teaching and concentrated on music and mothering her two children.[6]
She has served as a community advisory member on the National Aids project, the Walter Reed project[7] and the Makerere Johns Hopkins joint project. She has also been involved in grass root campaigns for HIV/AIDS and her face is now recognizable as one of the facilitators for the Nabagereka's annual cultural fete, the Kisakaate. Kawalya is also involved in mentorship of talent.[6]
she recently participated in the gender identity week organized by Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies[8]
Joanita Kawalya is a married mother of two children.[4]
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