BLU 3 is Uganda's hottest all-girl group and is made up of Mya Baganda, Jacqui Chandiru and Lillian Mbabazi.
UGPulse Promo
Blu 3 (Black Ladies from Uganda 3) has had a very long and famous history. The group burst onto the music scene after winning the Coca Cola Pop stars contest in Uganda. The judges were so impressed with the girls' vocals blending so well that they compared them to the biggest voices in the industry then.
A few years into performing together, the group had a sudden split where they lost one member- Cinderella Sanyu. But that was not the end of Blu 3. The group recruited and trained young and beautiful Mya Baganda and is now again on top of the charts with their amazing voices and talent.
All the group members are professional songwriters and work together on many of the songs of their albums.
Some of the girls' most famous hits include Hitaji, Frisky, Kanchachanche, Strong Woman, Burrn, Nsanyuka Nawe, Ndiberra Nawe, Tomalaako and so many more.
Blu 3 (Left to Right): Jacqui Chandiru, Mya Baganda and Lillian Mbabazi.
How does one describe Blu 3 after meeting with them for the first time? If you dare to compare them with the more known American group TLC, Lillian would be T-Boz, Mya would be Chilli and Jacqui would be Lisa Lopez... Left-Eye. That is because Lillian seems more of the spokesperson for the group, while Mya is the most "girly" girl, and Jacqui is definitely cool, perhaps not wild as Left-Eye, but when she speaks she is always cool... Her unique, at least by Ugandan standards, lip ring is perhaps one clue to a wild side of her. But let's try again with Destiny's Child... Lillian would be Beyonce, Jacqui would be Kelly and Mya would be Michelle. Make no mistake... These ladies are all unique in their own way. There is really no group one can really compare them to. They are simply just Blu 3.
Blu 3 with new hit Fly
One thing that is the same is the amount of critics they bring to the surface... especially from Ugandans... ironically their strongest supporters. Blu 3 in my opinion has faced some of the harshest criticism any Ugandan artist or artists have ever had to endure. They say when you are at the top, there are more people looking up at you and ready to offer their own opinion. And because of that you have to expect harsh criticism. But with Blu 3 some of the comments have been down-right nasty and I dare say sometimes-racist... yes racist... From the very people that support them... Ugandans. One only needs to go to YouTube to see some of the comments they get from their videos... the same videos that have been topping charts in and especially outside of Uganda... setting new records for the reach of Ugandan music worldwide. Although we don't typically pull down these comments from users on our videos, we have had to pull down a couple in the last few weeks. They simply were too low and ugly.
Blu 3 with Strong Woman
Nonetheless this has only made the ladies stronger. And their tough skin was unexpectedly evident to me when I met them for the first time for this interview. When I was done interviewing Blu 3 I had to tell them that they were nothing like I had pictured they would be... I knew they would all be attractive and not bubble heads but I did not expect to meet smart strong professional women... fully in control and engaged in all elements of their craft. I thought they would be protected by specialists who would tell them what to do. But apart from perhaps Mya, who is still in no hurry to show an experience she does not have, and who the other two protect all too well in a little-sister kind of way, they are no longer new to the game and their clear answers and demeanor reflect that. Their level of education shows as well (they each went to college) and all three express themselves clearly and with class.
So it was Saturday June 20th and I believe it was Mya who was a little more than punctual, and she made it first to the interview at Kampala's Serena Hotel before I got there. We made our introductions... She was very girly and talkative, and had a free young spirit about her. Off tape we quickly began talking about where I was from and how she had never been to the United States and she was excited to find out more in their upcoming tour of the US.
Julie from MusicUganda.com joined us not too long after that and in her typical this-is-business style she got on her cell phone to check up on Jacqui and Lillian who were tied up at two separate engagements.
Shortly after that Jacqui showed up looking fabulous in her sun glasses. We begin talking about their previous interview on UGPulse, Ugandan Musicians: Blu*3 is Back done by Ultimate Media Consult... and there is an argument of whether we only interviewed Lillian or all three girls... And not long after that Lillian also turned up, also rocking some cool shades. And before I could loose anything that should be in the interview to the growing conversation starting to take place, I quickly set the recorder and got the interview going.
Blu 3 arrives at Serena Hotel for the interview (Left to Right): Jacqui Chandiru, Mya Baganda and Lillian Mbabazi.
Peter: First of all, welcome to the interview... and again it's... it's really informal... I'm not your typical journalist... I just run a website trying to promote Ugandan "stuff"... So we are not trying to put dirt out. Hmnnn... But if we can receive it in a nice, clean way... hey... It might help us get some traffic...
(All laugh...)
Ok... Umm... So how do we wanna do this? (I'm piercingly looking at beautiful Mya)... Ok... Perhaps lets break the ice with a question for Mya. (They all laugh curiously at my singling out Mya.) Well... cuz she's picked on a lot lately.
Ok... A lot gets talked about the different hairstyles Blu 3 wear... So Mya, one of the issues the viewers have had with... with the last video we added to our video collection, is that of your hair always being blonde... Well today its dark... And don't get me wrong... I love your hair... but the viewers are talking about it. What's your view on black women and them having... you know... wearing unnatural hairstyles?
(Mya lets out a hearty laugh... She takes it well.)
Mya: Ummm... Which video are we talking about? (She looks around at everyone for help.)
Julie: Probably "Together"?...
Mya: In Together it was... wait... (She thinks hard and then laughs, joined by everybody else. The video I was actually referring to was Where You Are but I keep that to myself.)
Blu 3 with Where You Are featuring Radio and Weasel
Of course I have natural hair... But I don't like to keep it out a lot because it gives me a hard time... About colors... I'm very... I'm very versatile. I don't like to stick to one thing as you can see today.
It really depends on someone's personality and character. Like, I have my natural hair... I could decide to bring it out, but I'm waiting to reveal that at some later point in time. Right now I'm enjoying what I do. So on African women and unnatural hair?... It's OK... It's a free world! I don't know... (Shrugs)... It's a new generation... Anyone can choose blonde hair or green hair... Or natural, puffy or spongy hair... (She laughs again)... It's OK! You don't have to have black hair or wear your natural hair to prove that you are an African.
(I signal to Julie to take over. I really have no clue what to ask them next at this point... Still warming up I guess.)
Julie: Many of your recent interviews have been about Cindy leaving. (Dismissingly...) We are tired of that. (They all laugh... all but me... Blu 3 seems relieved.) Right now... Today, its about Blu 3... So...
Peter: Wo... (I'm not satisfied with the direction the interview is taking and I desperately struggle to regain the driver's seat...)W... W... Well, we DO wanna get some... some little issues closed. Cuz we haven't told them on UGPulse.
(I try to find the right words) Our audience hasn't... had... "closure". So maybe you want to put some comments out right now that would serve as "closure" to your fans and perhaps open doors to... to wherever you guys are going.
(Phew... I am hoping this will work. Silence... Hesitance... as I take time juggling my words. The mood has now changed. An interview that had just began unrehearsed and meandering in different directions, and with lots of laughter and giggling from the ladies, has now taken a serious turn. They are clearly hurt and all three wear their pain differently. But they are not crying about it... They proudly wear their professional show-must-go-on faces.)
Blu 3 with Burrn with Cindy ft Navio
So how did Cindy leave? I mean... What is the story behind that?... From your lips.
(The response that follows comes very quickly after the question is posed. Very eloquent and poised in her response, perhaps it is Lillian who feels the pain most...)
Lillian: Cindy made a decision to leave the group and...
Peter: (Trying to set the stage so that we get a complete story.)She was in Europe at the time... right?
Lillian: Yeah... She was in Spain... And we asked her over... and over... again, "Are you sure?", "Cuz we've got someone...", "Are you sure we should replace you? You know... There is still time..." You know... "If you wanna change your mind and come back to the group...", " cuz you have everything going on for you..."
(Shrugs) I guess things did not work out where she was and she decided to come back here (Uganda) and play the victim.
Not everything will last forever... There is always an option. And that option was Mya. She is fitting well into the group right now.
Cindy's leaving was not OUR decision... It was her's and I'm...
Peter: She... I think... (I'm clearly a little confused...) The story that I got was that she was on vacation with her boyfriend in Spain and then she was told not to come back after refusing to return on time for a show... but... but that's not true?
Lillian:(Lillian is very emphatic) We HAVE no right to tell her not to come back. She won her place in the group. You know... She was in the competition... She won her spot in the group. It's not like it was OUR decision to make. We wanted her to be in the group but she made her own choice.
Lillian tries to set the record straight (Left to Right): Jacqui Chandiru, Mya Baganda (hidden from sight), Lillian Mbabazi and MusicUganda Manager Julie Erusa.
And when things did not work out where she was... I guess you gotto find a way to get back into the market... So she played victim. And... and... (chuckles) Heh! And I'm glad it worked for her... Because so many people were really mad at us for a long time. Even on the Internet we got a lot of bad comments about Blu 3... about me and Jacqui chasing Cindy... you know. And people who were Cindy's fans... who were really hurt by the fact that she said we fired her... And that really hurts us because we were like a real family... We... We grew up together. We were like teenagers when we joined the group. For her to say that, really hurt myself and Jacqui... But... (somberly) Life goes on... You know?
Peter: Hmnn... (I am moved by Lillian's emotional response. I can only speak for myself but I think everyone else is too.)
Lillian: Yep... (There is a brief silence.)
The Old Blu 3(Left to Right): Lillian Mbabazi, Cinderella Sanyu, Jacqui Chandiru.
Peter: Blu 3 then and Blu 3 now... With and without Cindy... Apart from replacing Cindy with Mya, how do you plan on moving on and redefining yourselves? Musically... Image wise... to get people to stop thinking about Cindy...
Lillian: Well... The... The thing that Steve told us is that your music speaks... You don't have to lie... You know. That is why we don't really want to talk about it. You know it doesn't make sense when somebody has already put something in other people's minds. And you know... some people who actually love her... (then slowly for emphasis)... will bel-i-eve her... you know.
But she knows the truth... and her family knows the truth...
The New Blu 3 at the Kora Awards in Benin (Left to Right): Jacqui Chandiru, Mya Baganda and Lillian Mbabazi.
And now... Blu 3... what we are focusing on... We are totally different now... From the way we act now. We are more mature now...
Peter: I noticed that...
Lillian: Life struggles change you. And I guess Blu 3 has changed.
Peter: "Where You Are" is definitely a more grown up Blu 3... The video is great... The vocals are great... shows a lot of growth... Is that the goal?...
Jacqui: Well yah... We definitely do have a goal when it comes to the music side of it. (At this point I'm beginning to sense that Jacqui has a slight edge of being the expert for the group in THIS area, than perhaps Lillian or Mya) Right now... With the kind of music we are doing, we sit down and we discuss what we want to sing. And then we are gonna sit down with the producer to discuss our ideas. We don't just jump into the studio... no. We take time... We learn the songs... and we get to feel what we write.
On top of that the songs that we do these days are very heart-felt. There is a huge difference when someone hands you a song versus when YOU get a pen and write down... and then you ask Lillian or Mya for help... And you are like, "What does this sound like?"... "Is this ok?"... and then they correct you here and there. It's something that is coming from us.
Julie: In 2008 you were selected as Goodwill Ambassadors for the International Organization of Migration (IOM)...(Joining the likes of Angelina Jolie, Emma Thompson and Ricky Martin)
Lillian: That was the most exciting thing about 2008... In fact that was the ONLY exciting thing about 2008. (They look at each other and laugh.)
Peter: Oh don't say that... Only?...(All laugh)
Lillian: Seriously! (Above the laughter)... 2008... You don't understand how bad that year was... Not only musically... For example my Mom was VERY sick in 2008. And I thought for a second that I was going to lose her...
But you know... when that came... and they told us that you've been selected as Goodwill Ambassadors for the International Organization of Migration... out of all the musicians here... They could have picked anyone... but they picked us.
Peter: Tell us more about the position...
Liilian: Well... the organization deals with Human Trafficking. We have been doing tours to refugee camps. We also released "Fly Away"... a song that speaks of the evils of human trafficking...
Lillian: That's "Fly"... "Fly Away" is for human trafficking. It has not been released to the public yet... (slaps Jacqui's lap as if to wake her up) Gwe!... Tell him about the song... (We all laugh.)
Jacqui: Oh (Acting startled as she smiles)... Like she said... There are three stages of human trafficking... That is Recruitment, Transportation and Exploitation. You pick somebody up... you transport them and then the exploitation starts. Those are the stages a person goes through before they are stamped as trafficked people.
So the song is about telling people what human trafficking is. Cuz... We are actually human trafficked and we don't even know...
Peter:(Repeating carefully and slowly)We are actually human trafficked and we don't even know... What does that mean?
Jacqui: We don't even know... I mean... I'll give you an example of my house. When I was growing up we used to go to the village to pick young girls who had dropped out of school... We'd bring them to town... They would work for us... They would be our maids... and once in a while we'd send money and stuff back to their homes. That is actually Human Trafficking... but I didn't know that until we became ambassadors.
(Everyone is gloomy and concerned... Jacqui calmly smiles.) Don't worry we don't do it anymore...
Peter: So you take the girls home... Then you send the parents money... Did the parents know you were taking the girls to town for labor?
Jacqui: Yes... Yeah... The parents knew.
Peter: The girls didn't know... They are oblivious to the whole...
Lillian:(Jumps in) Actually... That's only one side to human trafficking though... It's not only that... It happens... For example... You live in the UK? (Directing the question to me.)
Peter: US.
Lillian: US... It happens even in the US. You get someone from here (Uganda) and you promise him or her all sorts of things in the US. For example I'm an artist... Someone might promise me a major deal... You might have pictures or all the things needed for someone to believe you. Then when I get there you take my passport and exploit me. Some people become prostitutes... That is Human Trafficking... That is what we are trying to fight against.
Julie: The thing of picking people from villages is done a lot here in Uganda... mainly to serve as maids. So what advice would you give someone involved in this?
Lillian: When you are human trafficked, typically you are being lied to. There are many promises made to you and you expect these promises to be fulfilled. When you get there it's a whole different scenario. The person has lied to you and you are in a foreign country.
IOM Assists IDPs to return home in Timor.
Source: IOM Brussels
There are organizations that can help you. IOM has offices around the world that help you safely migrate. If you are not sure about someone's story you can always go to these offices where they may assist you. And with human trafficking... the law has been passed... You can report and have individuals arrested. You can report them to the police station... Or you can report them to the offices of the IOM... They will advise you... They will tell you what to do.
Peter:(Looking at and picking on Mya again.)How about the project you did related to the Rwandese genocide? There was a song you did with fellow East African musicians.
Mya: We were selected as Ugandan artists... Lillian has Rwandese heritage. That's one of the reasons we were selected.
Jacqui:(Jokingly) No... Because Blu 3 is hot! (We all laugh)
Mya: Including that... We're hot (Laughs)... But really Lillian is from Rwanda. When we were called to do the project on the genocide, we did not truly know about the genocide until we were taken to a site...
Peter: And who is this taking you...
Lillian: It was organized by the Rwandese government and an East African company called EAP working under the government. They selected different artists from different countries... Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda... to do a joint song. It was for the 15th commemoration of the genocide that happened in Rwanda.
What happened is that they took all the artists to see what had actually happened in Rwanda before we actually recorded the song so that when you sing the song you actually have the emotion for it. So we did go to the memorial site and these guys completely broke down... (Points at her partners.) I knew what had happened in Rwanda...
Mya: I did (She is filled with emotion)... I was just... shaken.
Lillian: Oh yeah... You see once you go to the memorial site you see different pictures... They tell you the whole story... Everything.
This was during the annual mourning week in Kigali... in April... the month when the genocide was at its peak and the month it also ended in 1994. During that week nobody is supposed to have a club open... Basically everything is on lockdown.
The song was an experience for me personally cuz I'm from there and I did lose family members. For these guys a lot of it was fresh... Maybe they can tell you what they were going through. Mya broke down...
Peter: (Picking on Mya again!) So you broke down Mya...
Mya: It was sad... I broke down because of the innocent children. Cuz they were very fragile... and they didn't know what was going on. And the process in which they were killed... That really got to my heart. The whole thing gave us a clear vision of what really happened. As Lillian said there were different artists from different countries singing in different languages so that people from each of these countries could understand what the song was about in their own language.
Never Again featuring East African Artists including Blu 3
About the Author Peter Allen Kigonya is the founder and owner of UGPulse.com, BlackMenWomen.com and Freefufu.com. He can be reached at letters@ugpulse.com.
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