- Geoffrey Oryema
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Geoffrey Oryema during a concert in Mainz, Germany, 13 March 2001
Geoffrey Oryema (born April 16, 1953) is an internationally renowned Ugandan musician. In 1977, at the age of 24 and at the height of Idi Amin's power, Oryema was smuggled across the Ugandan border in the trunk of a car, after the death of his father, Erinayo Wilson Oryema, who was a cabinet minister, beginning a life in exile. Today his songs keep alive the languages of his youth - Swahili and Acholi and return to the lost country - the 'clear green land' of Uganda.
Oryema earned his international reputation following the release of his second album, Beat the Border. He has collaborated with, amongst others, Peter Gabriel. Gabriel's record label, Real World, helped with the first three of Oryema's albums, until his move to Sony International, a label established in France where Oryema resides since his exile. Besides his two native languagues mentioned earlier, he also sings in English and French.
On July 2005, he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling concert in Cornwall, and with 1 Giant Leap at the Live 8 Edinburgh concert.
Discography
- Exile (1990)
- Beat the Border (1993)
- Night to Night (1996)
- Spirit (2000)
- The Odysseus/Best Of (2002)
- Words (2004)
- Masters at Work (Piri Wango Iya - Rise Ashen's Morning Come Mix)(2004)
- From The Heart (Released on Long Tale Recordings) (2010)
External links
Categories:- 1953 births
- Living people
- Acholi people
- Ugandan musicians
- Real World artists
- Long Tale Recordings artists
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