Tag: Ruyonga
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Ruyoga Delves into Identity and Self Worth
By Max Bone R Ruyoga during a 2015 performance. Picture from Bigeyes.ug. In his 2014 single titled Muhuliire? (Y’heard?), Ugandan hip-hop artist Ruyoga goes into depth on issues of identity and self-worth. He does so while simultaneously addressing some of the pressing topics in Uganda when the song was written in 2014. Ruyoga opens the
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HHAP Episode 23: Uganda’s Ruyonga on African/African American Relations, Black Panther, Politics, and Christianity
This interview with Ugandan artist Ruyonga, formerly known as Krukid, is an in-depth discussion on the artist’s perspective on the Black experience, relations between African Americans and Africans in America, his issues with the Black Panther film, being a Christian MC, and his perspective on laws and politics in Uganda. Ruyonga studied in the U.S. in the early 2000s. He began rapping in Uganda before coming to the States, and he established an underground career in the U.S. and became known for his distinct sound and strong lyrical ability. After almost a decade in the US, Ruyonga returned to Uganda. He changed his name to Ruyonga and built his career as a Christian rapper. After a long stay Ruyonga has an interesting perspective on being an African immigrant in America, and the tensions between African and African American communities. He talks about those tensions from an African immigrant perspective, and comments on the diverse racial and ethnic dynamics he saw in different parts of the United States. The conversation turns towards pop culture and race and Ruyonga has strong feelings about the Black Panther and the representations of Africans in the film, and Hollywood’s presentation of the Black experience. Ruyonga also opens up about his views on race, Black pride, and feminism, as well as his views on the ways different groups of people have been pitted against each other. Part of the conversation includes the artist’s views on some of Uganda’s more controversial laws regarding women and sexuality, especially the infamous Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Still a strong lyricist, Ruyonga now uses Christianity as the vehicle with which to express his lyricism. His latest release is Voice Of My Father, and follows an impressive body of work that spans over 10 years. Ruyonga is on BandCamp at https://ruyonga.bandcamp.com iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ruyonga/482094271 Twitter: @ruyongamusic Episode Breakdown 7:30 “African American, American African” 9:30 “Pearl City Anthem” 11:45 “Hand of God” 12:40 Background and move to the US 14:00 The Black Experience 15:15 African & African American relations 23:42 The Black Panther movie & Hollywood 29:33 Black pride, feminism 32:00 The return to Uganda 35:45 Language 37:18 Christianity & politics
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When the East is in the House…
Always wanted to hear the classic Blahzay Blahzay song “Danger” in a hip-hop track from East Africa. This is a video of images and footage of East African hip hop artists (Tanzania, Uganda, & Kenya) with “Danger” playing in the background.
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Krukid EP review : Things Change
This EP album was made during the whole inner self conflict between Krukid and Ruyonga. Upon finding his new found faith he also decided to be known as Ruyonga and only Ruyonga. In a recent interview with NTV, he acknowledged the true reason of returning back to Uganda in order to truly be himself, “how
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Krukid: Black Immigrant Mixtape Review
The first time I listened to this, I didn’t like it, but now I understand it more and have grown to appreciate it. Starting off, this mixtape does not mention Africa much at all, besides referencing where Krukid came from in the first track entitled “Black Immigrant”. This song basically blends together his cultures of
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Krukid Bio
Straight out of western Uganda, Krukid, who was born as Edwin Ruyonga, stands out as one of Uganda’s more socially conscious artists. His father, a member of Bunyooro royalty, passed away when Krukid was very young, while his mother, a well-educated woman, sent him to study at an honorable Ugandan school. Though his date of
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Biography of Krukid
Krukid’s actual name is Edwin Ruyonga and he is from the east African country of Uganda. I have not been able to discover his birth date or current age, but I assume when he got his big break in 2000 he was in his late teens. In Uganda, there weren’t many hip hop artists, so he was
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Krukid: Afr-I-Can Album Review
Krukid really came through with this album. He put in his heart and soul into his songs and their content. I was very moved and impressed with most of the songs on this album. I could tell that his message and style had matured and that there was a general theme to the entire album.
