Geoffrey Oryema was born in Soroti, east of Uganda, he was the son of a civil servant and from his father he learned the local folk music, as well as the nanga (the harp) and lukeme (thumb piano), in addition to studying Western music in school. However, these were dangerous times in the country, with the mad dictator Idi Amin in power, and in 1977, Oryema's father fell victim, being one of many who was murdered by the armed forces. Oryema crossed the border to Kenya and made his way to Paris.
In the early '80s, Paris was Africa central, at least as far as music went. But it was the Africa of the dancefloor, given a quick studio spit-and-polish with synthesizers and drum machines -- all very far from the more introspective musicality of Oryema's songs. However, he persisted, becoming influenced as much by rock & roll as anything else, eventually creating a shimmering kind of strongly rooted African pop which attracted the Real World label. He began to play the Womad international circuit of world music festivals.
He sings in english, acholi, kiganda, ingala and french. He plays various traditional african instruments such as kora, nanga, lukeme, but also electric guitar. On his first album (Exile 1990), he quickly became an international success with Ye Ye Ye or Land of Anaka, co-written with Brian Eno and with Peter Gabriel on the chorus. The international press has often portrayed him as an "African Leonard Cohen."
Now based in France in Brittany, he continues to live quietly.
His lastest album “From the Heart” is an indictment against the forced recruitment of child soldiers in African tribal wars.
Discography :
From the Heart 2009 Long Tale Recordings, Words 2004 Next Music, Spirit 2000 Sony Music, Night to Night 1996 Real World & Virgin, Beat the Border 1993 Real World & Virgin, Exile 1990 Real World & Virgin
Awards:
French Grammy’ (Victoire De La Musique) for ‘Best Music for Film’ in ‘Un Indien Dans La Ville’.
Some performances :
Womad festivals worldwide - Reading, Barcelona, Senajoki, Usa, Australia, Sicily - , Sydney opéra House, Melbourne, Wembley Stadium (for the liberation of Nelson Mandela), L'Olympia Paris, Pratika Théâtre Moscow, Golden Mask Festival Moscow, Live 8 Eden Park and Edinburg, Carnegie Hall New York.
And many benefit events for Amnesty International, the Rain forest foundation, Telethon, Medecins sans Frontières
