Halima Scoops deal to Organize OWCS-E Concerts
Veteran singer Halima Namakula has scooped herself a deal through her No End Entertainment studio and promotions company to organise the planned e-concerts. These virtual gigs were announced by Operation Wealth Creation’s (OWC) head of operations, Sylvia Owori.
According to Namakula, the reason she was chosen to be on the panel of organisers is because she is the oldest producer and promoter in the country.
She is going to be among the people choosing the artistes that will be performing on each concert and it has nothing to do with the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA), according to her.
“I am excited about this because my children are crying. They are idle. When we had a meeting with Gen. Salim Saleh, he asked me as the oldest to guide these artistes because that is what I do. No End Entertainment is the oldest production house. I want you to use my expertise that you have to turn it into music,” she explained.
No End Entertainment in the first decade of the millennium was a popular production and events promotions house. Very ambitious that under her son, Hemdee Kiwanuka, they organised a number of successful concerts but fizzled out slowly after some of their concerts began to get cancelled like the Boyz II Men’s in 2007. It is now a lowly music production house.
Halima Namakula at (60th Birthday)
Musicians praised Namakula for the roles she had played in their lives on an individual basis, including Grenade, who thought Namakula did not know him because of his young age and the fact that he is new in the music industry. He knelt down and thanked her for boosting his confidence in his music career.
Musician Halima Namakula shone at her birthday party, which took place at Zebra House Kansanga in Kampala on Wednesday, January 8.
Clad in a white long dress, Namakula looked classy as she walked down the steps to meet her friends and Family.
Several musicians turned up to celebrate with her. They included Ykee Benda, A pass, Hiderman, Pallaso, Weasel, Victor Kamenyo, Rema Namakula, Nina Rose, Lydia Jasmine, Eddy Yawe, John Blaq, Grenade Official and Geo Steady.
The Ebonies, led by Sam Bagenda, commonly known as Dr Bossa, also grace the event.
Musicians praised Namakula for the roles she had played in their lives on an individual basis, including Grenade, who thought Namakula did not know him because of his young age and the fact that he is new in the music industry. He knelt down and thanked her for boosting his confidence in his music career.
Several musicians also thanked Namakula for contributing to the transformation of the music industry.
They also praised her for having a lot of tender love and referred to her as the mother of all musicians in Uganda.
Halima Namakula ended her birthday party with a speech, in which she advised artistes to stay focused and be patient as it is the only way they will reach great things in life.
She also thanked her family for taking care of her, loving her, seeing her as a mentor and as someone they could always run to.
To wrap up the evening, the artistes sang for the birthday girl as she cut her cake.
Who is Halima Namakula?
Halima Namakula (born January 1, 1960) is a Ugandan musician, actress, entrepreneur and humanitarian[1] who in 2009 was nominated to represent Uganda in the Mrs. World beauty pageant.
Acting
Halima Namakula started her career as a stage actress when she was young and in school with the group called “The Black Pearls”. Namakula’s acting partner, husband, and the father of her children died in 1994.[3] Though her stage name is Halima Namakula, she sometimes referred to as “the mother of all artists”. In the 1990s after the death of her husband, Namakula relocated back to her home country and continued on with her acting, joining a TV soap opera, “That’s Life Mwattu”, as Michelle.[4]
Since 1999 Halima Namakula has released five studio albums:[7] and they were all done under her own record label, No-End Entertainment.
Albums
1999 Ekimbeewo
2000 Tonkutula
2001 Kyama Kyange
2004 Cheza aka Sambagala
2008 Ntuse Jendaga
Singles
Music videos:[8]
Ekimbeewo
Tonkutula
Omusajja Waa Taxi
Tuzina
Cheza
Sambagala
Africa Yetu
Watoto Wa Mungu
Kibaduguda
In 2008 Namakula celebrated her 10th anniversary in the music industry right after she had what the media called “a flopped show” at Kati Kati with K-Ci & Jojo.[9] In April 2012 Namakula released a song call “Digida” meaning dance, but this time she stayed away from the nursery rhymes she’s known for.[10]
Controversy
In 2003 Halima Namakula’s Radio station Beat FM was shot down by the broadcasting Council for operating without a license.[11] In 2007 Halima Namakula was sued for sh57million Uganda shillings (about US$25,000) for running over a three-year-old child.[12] In 2012 Halima was arrested for littering the city of Kampala with posters of her Ndimuzadde concert at Club Obligatto.[13]
Nominations and recognitions
2004 Kora Awards – Nominee[14]
2005 Kora Awards – Nominee[15]
2009 Divas Awards, presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.[16]
2009/2010 New Vision & DFCU “Woman Achiever Of The Year Award.[1]
In 2009 she was Mrs. Uganda and represented Uganda in the 2009 Mrs. World pageant that took place in Vung Tau, Vietnam.[2]
Meeting my son Akon and his wife made me forget the Covid LockDown – Halima Namakula
On Thursday last week, the nation welcomed Senegalese-American music icon, Akon, and his wife Rozina Negusei with great pleasure into the country.
The celebrated singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and actor was welcomed by Eddy Kenzo at the Entebbe Airport on a business visit to follow up his wife’s business ventures in Uganda.
The two who own the Zanar Entertainment, Entreeg Records & Entreeg Entertainment Group are said to be planning to invest over $12 million into Uganda’s entertainment industry.
The government also confirmed how it had agreed to allocate 1 square mile of land to the international artist where he is set to build a futuristic Akon City in the country.
The projected city will be a platform to attract investments in the country and create more jobs.
Over the weekend, the “Lonely” fame singer met with a couple of our local celebrities who included Bebe Cool and his wife Zuena Kirema, Halima Namakula, and her daughter Racheal K, and Hanson Baliruno as he was on a tour visiting several areas and game parks.
Veteran musician and humanitarian Halima Namakula excited her followers when she disclosed that meeting her “son” Akon and his wife made her forget about the Covid-19 lockdown completely.
This new year has brought blessings, seeing my son Akon and his wife in UG made me forget the Covid lockdown I missed seeing you guys last year.
Her statement has sparked mixed reviews among online dwellers and has left them wondering whether Rema Namakula is Akon’s sister.