Grace Nakimera: Ani Akumanyi

If she is not the hottest thing on ground in the music business, right now in Kampala, then she sure does come close. Her name is Grace Nakimera. She is one of those very few artists in Uganda that is able to get away by being addressed simply by their first name. Typically this is not easily accomplished, and when you have a common name such as "Grace", it's even harder. But not for Grace.

UGPulse Promo

One thing that took me by surprise was to discover that Grace is the one who got together with Ngoni to record the female remix version of Digi... a successful hit that saw the rise of Ngoni and their self owned production company GoodEnuff. But Grace's entry into the music scene was more noticed when she was featured in yet another GoodEnuff produced hit "Ani Akumanyi"; one that got her more noticed than the two musicians she partnered with for the mega hit, Gatimo and Paragon.

What followed were tracks such as "Welaga Ki" which seemed to try to ride off of the success of "Ani Akumanyi" as it was similar in message and style. Nonetheless the signs were still there for many that we were witnessing the slow rise of a star. One thing that Grace and her team noticed was working for her was her pushing the envelope in her videos... Wet bikinis, water hose and all - a first in Ugandan music videos.

The slow rise soon shifted into higher gear with "Anfuukula" and has not stopped since. The song further provoked the mind lyrically through the title alone that translates to anything from "He bothers me" to "He opens me up"... and just like with the English translation, the artist leaves a lot to mind but still room for her to clean up what she will say are your dirty thoughts. The video to the song was equally provocative to many with plenty of gleaming flesh. Though the industry was heading in that direction, in early 2008, no one did it quite as unapologetically and in-your-face as Grace.

Anfuukula by Grace

For its time, the video was still cutting edge for Ugandan standards, and Grace was able to walk away with Best Video of that year. The videos that followed were still as good but there was a clear attempt to tone things down a notch.

At this point Grace had left her permanent mark. From the energy of her performances, to the well thought out videos, it is clear that Grace surrounds herself with a team of passionate professionals and it is this team that is working well together. She met up with me at Serena for the interview with a representative from SkyRock as they where fresh from shooting her latest video, "Kawonawo."

I have read from other writers that the Grace on stage is very different from the Grace sitting down at an interview... supposedly shy. Hmnnn... Then there was a comparison to the offstage Beyonce, which made me laugh. Grace is definitely calmer during interviews... What do you expect? She is sitting down and not on stage. The Grace I met, though very down to earth, was constantly giggling and full of life. There is an ounce of mysterious mischief in the way she laughs, which I find hard to explain, but definitely not shy. One can tell that working with her is a lot of fun. You can tell that she is constantly on the go... Not commanding or bossy and again, down to earth, she has this independent modern black woman energy about her... a sharpness she probably gets from also running a successful salon in the heart of Kampala. This is the salon she opened up soon after Beauty school in Nairobi - something that clearly contributes to how she presents herself in public... very beautiful... a real star.

Grace Nakimera.

Peter: Grace when did music begin for you?

Grace: It's always been a part of my life. It began when I was very young... I was performing when I was seven years old... That's when it all started. Then before you know it there was Ani Akumanyi in 2004... then Anfuukula... For me music has always been a part of me.

Peter: So what made you break through... Walk us through the success of Ani Akumanyi.

Grace: It was actually a group of three. It was myself, Gatimo and Paragon. These guys were great... They are very talented... you know...

Peter: ok.

Grace: (Reminiscing with a smile) So one time we were at Alligators... I don't know if you've heard of it... It's a karaoke bar. That's how we met... (chuckles) Cuz there was a competition going on. So... we were just chilling there and we just hooked up and we were like... You know how guys are always coming up with slang... and we were like "Gwe... ani akumanyi"... So that's how the song started... Three people got to write that song down and we went to Ngoni who were our producers...

Peter: Oh really?

Grace: Yeah... and they did a great job with it.

Peter: And where is Gatimo and Paragon now?

Grace: Well... they had a group called Spontaneous, but now Gatimo is more... serious? I guess he is into... what? (She thinks...) He is into computer stuff... (Laughs.)

Peter: Really?

Grace: Yeah... and Paragon... ummm... (Thinking...) He settled with his wife... And there was another guy Gatimo had hooked up with later Raba Daba... He is doing his thing... actually he has a few singles on air.

Peter: Interesting... I definitely want to get into the videos... How about the videos? Tell us about the videos cuz...

Grace: (Mischievously or embarrassingly giggles... I'm not sure which... then laughs) Ani Akumanyi!?

Earlier Days: Katika and Ani Akumanyi by Grace, Gatimo and Paragon

Peter: ...cuz they are really talked about.

Grace: (Anxiously...) Which one?

Peter: Lets start with the video... the one with the Mercedes... car wash...

Grace: Oh yeah... Welaga Ki... (Bursts into a laughter.)

Welaga Ki by Grace

Peter: Yeah... We got a lot of comments on the Internet.

Grace: What kind of comments? (Still laughing... still mischievous laughter or perhaps embarrassed of something.) Where they good?... Ha! Ha!

Peter: Well for one it was a bit out there in terms of sexiness...

Grace: (Sobering up from her laughter...) Yeah it was... yeah very sexy video in a way. Well... the thing is that its... ummm (She sounds like she will burst into more laughter in any minute... Embarrassed? Mischievous?) You know this whole thing is an experience... ummm... I had fun with it. (Shrugs.) And that's very important. (She winks. I continue...)

Peter: (I'm amused) Do... Do you like delivering on the edge... cuz...

Grace: Hmn Hmn... Well you might...

Peter: Cuz the following videos were also...

Grace: (She wrestles to find the correct words.) No... Not really... I love... You know the thing is that I'm a very very comfortable person in my skin... Like... I... just try to...

Peter: (She does not need to finish... I interpret the ending to be something like, "I just be my natural self... sexy.")

Grace: ...You know what I mean? (Yes, I do.) But not over the edge... not nasty. Cuz I'm a mom too... you know... I always try to balance that.

Peter: How has motherhood changed you?

Grace: (She's emphatic.) It's a great experience actually... Until you have one... Like that's the only way to explain it. But it's the most beautiful thing. I love her so much... My baby girl... She's two and a half.

Peter: They also talk about how quickly you lost the baby fat... What's up with that? Any tricks you want to recommend to our ladies in Uganda.

Grace: (She laughs.) Hmmm... Exercise.

Peter: Exercise?

Grace: I work out a lot... I dance a lot... I love dancing... Because my performances are high energy.

Grace Nakimera.

Peter: Now you've won a lot of awards in your short career...

Grace: Yes... Last year I won the Video of the Year Award?

Peter: Yes... ummm... That was for Ayi Ayi Ayi? (I could not recall at the time.)

Grace with Ayi Ayi Ayi

Grace: No... that was award was for Anfuukula.

Peter: Can you tell us a bit about that... winning the PAM Award Video of the year... given that they chose a very risque video.

Grace: Its something that people have to understand... The lyrics were great... The video was great... The moves were great... There was so much working together... And that is very important and that's probably why it was chosen.

I was then the Best Female Artist of the Teens Buzz Award... that was very cool. Then there was Mbarara... from the Rotary Club or Something... I won an award there too... very cool... I'm like yes!! (Her fist is clenched in a power sign or a sign of success... I laugh.)

The feeling is good actually. Why? Because in a way, to get those awards its like you are communicating to these people and these people get you... That's how you get to them to that level... And I love my fans so much. That's why every time I'm up there I'm like, "Yeah... Guys... Lets get ready to have a partey!"

I always do that because it is important... I wanna be a part of my crowd.

Peter: What are you working on right now?

Grace: (Excited) Well... I'm working on this a-maz-ing song... I'm very very very excited about it... Oh gosh!! ... Its amazing... (Laughs) Why? Because it tells my story.

Grace Nakimera.

Continues at: Grace Nakimera: Nvawo Nawe