BRIEF SUMMARY
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Throughout the world, human beings have continuously express their experiences through music, each community having its own unique way to do so. In this common journey, the kingdom of Buganda (Uganda) has contributed a unique achievement. However, the diverse musical ensembles that thrived for centuries inside the royal enclosure were abruptly silenced in the violent attack of the palace in 1966. Despite the reestablishment of the kingdom in 1993, most of the royal instruments, like xylophone, harp, drum-chime, and more, remains nowadays silent.
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Now in their 70s and 80s, the surviving royal musicians might soon not be able to share the unique stories and culture told through music by their ancestors. By making a 90min documentary and an album, we are now working to portray these talented man and share with the world the unique wealth lying in their hands.
THE PROJECT SO FAR
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Over one year ago, we started our journey in this vanishing music. We have met royal musicians across the kingdom, recording their stories as well as musical performances. During this project, we heard thrilling tales narrating the spirits, kings and heroes who shaped the kingdom over its 700 years of history. Moreover, these old musicians shared with us their personal stories, painted with fear, joy, and hope.
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Last January, we interviewed over 20 royal musicians and gathered them in the recording studio of the National Theatre in Uganda. During one week, we recorded a diversity of ensembles, from the large xylophone played by 6 people (akadinda) to the solo harp (ennanga). Some, like the entamiivu (drums and xylophone), haven't been heard since the attack of 1966.
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WHY DO WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
At this stage of the project, other musicians are still waiting to surface. Your contribution will allow us to portray and record the missing ensembles, like the trumpets (amakondere) or the royal drums (mujjaguzo), in order to complete the picture of the royal music of Buganda.
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Moreover, we are now working with the kingdom to gather in the palace over 40 royal musicians to organise a concert for the king. Your help will enable us to finalise this event, which would be a milestone in the history of the kingdom and the recovery of its unique heritage. To allow the royal music to sound once again in the palace will show that, eventually, the courage and dedication of old musicians can overcome the horrors of a violent past. The concert would transform this place of mourning into a centre from which the creativity of a community can thrive.
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We need 30’000€ to complete this project. Two-third of this budget will cover the cost of production and will go mainly to the large team with whom we work in Uganda: 40 musicians, 2 field assistants to help us interacting with the musicians in their own language (luganda), 4 translators to subtitle selected footage, 1 sound engineer and 4 cameramen to cover the concert in the palace.
The budget also includes the post-production, which will take place in Europe (editing in Brussels, Belgium; sound-mixing in London, UK; colour-grading in Lodz, Poland).
If by chance we are supported beyond our expectations, the additional donations will be used to create a fund in order to support the musicians and insure the continuity of their unique heritage for future generations.
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OTHER WAYS TO HELP
We are grateful for your support, and we are aware that not everyone can contribute even though wishing to participate. Hopefully, there are many ways to get involved in this project.
In the name of the team and all the musicians, webale nyo (thank you very much)!
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THE TEAM
Basile Koechlin, director
As far as written and oral sources allow us to assert, no society has been met without having a musical activity. Music, like language, seems to be an essential feature of our human condition. To deepen this fascinating aspect, I worked with renowned cultural institutions, like the ethnography museum of Geneva (Switzerland) or the British Library (U-K). After completing in London a master in ethnomusicology from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), I flew to Uganda in August 2016 to lead fieldwork on the revival of the royal music of Buganda. I live since in Kampala, working closely with royal musicians to promote the musical heritage of the kingdom. Greatly influenced by the work of Joshua Oppenheimer (The Act of Killing, The Look of Silence), I am convinced that documentary filmmaking is an effective medium to address social issues, and can provide a community with powerful metaphors to visualise, hear, and shape its future.
In 2017, I founded with my brother Short Fusion, a production company translating through arts unique perspectives on our common journey through life.
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Jules Louis Koechlin, cinematographer
Co-founder of the production company Short Fusion, I am convinced that feature films can attract attention to the diversity of our human condition. I dedicate thus my time to translate and share stories into pictures. Aesthete and enthusiast, I express my amazement at the beauty of our world through the art of filmmaking, which offers a unique opportunity to be a frontline witness of diverse stories. To deepen my passion for cinematography, I graduated from the Institute of Broadcasting Arts (IAD) in Belgium, and developed my ability to articulate stories through light, frame, and movement. As a cinematographer, I took part in several short films, some presented at the International French Speaking Film Festival of Namur (FIFF), music videos, notably for Alice on the Roof, and short documentaries. I am convinced that stories expressed through arts offer powerful tools to grasp our reality and help an individual to grow.
