Who is Rachael Miriel Magoola? Flash Uganda Media looks at her biography, age, husband, family, tribe, and relationship with the late Nicholas Magoola, Beatrice Zirabamuzaale, Afrigo Band, Obangaina, the early life and education of the current women’s representative of Bugweri District in Uganda.
Rachael Magoola, also known as Rachel Magoola is a singer, dancer, songwriter and politician from Uganda. She is the current women’s representative of Bugweri District in Parliament as an NRM candidate.
She is also a member of the popular Afrigo Band and acts as one of the female lead singers/vocalists. Magoola performs in five of Uganda’s 43 official languages, with an ensemble that includes percussion and string instruments from every part of the nation.
She also uses her dazzling voice to convey both new and traditional songs in happy tones, even when they have depressing subjects.
Early life and Education
Rachael Miriel Magoola was born on 12th March 1966 in Bugweri District, Busoga region, Eastern Uganda to two music trainers as parents.
Her father, the late Nicholas Magoola, was a music teacher at several Eastern Ugandan colleges. Her mother, Beatrice Zirabamuzaale was the women’s representative for Iganga District in the eighth parliament (2006 to 2011).
Magoola is currently unmarried and without children. She grew up in Bugweri, attending primary school alongside her parents, siblings, and other family members.
While still a high school student, she performed across Western Uganda with several bands. She was dismissed from Tororo Girls School in Senior Two for playing in a band during a break from school.
Magoola enrolled in Namasagali College in 1983 and then “Kaliro Teacher Training College” in 1986 to pursue her secondary school teaching certification with a focus on music and languages.
She worked as a teacher at Namasagali College from 1989 until 1993 when she moved to Kyambogo University to pursue a degree in education specializing in music.
Magoola, who was the top student in her class, couldn’t finish her degree as she was expelled in 1995 from her course for absconding while on tour with the Afrigo Band.
Magoola returned to Kyambogo University in 2012 to finish and earn her degree in education. She graduated in January 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Rachael Magoola’s music career began at home at the age of 6. Her late father, Nicholas Magoola, was a music instructor at many Eastern Ugandan colleges. She used to practise music at home and sing in the church choir when she was younger.
She decided to pursue singing professionally in 1989 when she joined the Afrigo band after completing her teacher training. Magoola’s love of music led her to turn it into a career. She currently identifies as an afro folk and pop musician.
After receiving her music certification, she spent eleven years as a teacher at Kaliro Primary Teacher Training College and Namasagali College, both secondary schools. Several times at national music competitions, her college choir competed on behalf of the area.
She served as the Music Club’s patroness during her time at Kaliro. She also created the college’s curricula and scheduling.
At the National Primary Teachers College Music Festivals, the College choir under her guidance frequently represented the Busoga district. She also coordinated numerous more musical events both within and outside of the campus.
She recorded her first song, Kukusangana with the Afrigo band in 1991. In 1993, she became a permanent member of the group and was given a chance to serve as the group’s lead vocalist. She also helped with choreography and music arrangements.
Rachel started her own band in 2001, releasing three solo albums under the names Inhaife (1997), Tyenda Wundi(1998), and Tonyiiga (2000).
She moved to the United Kingdom in 2003 after departing with the Afrigo band on good terms. In the UK, she worked alongside South African trumpeter Claude Deppa at the London South Bank African Music Festival as the leader of the “Women of Kampala” group.
One of the main advantages of Magoola’s stay in the UK was the agreement she made with ARC Music, a multinational record distribution business. Magoola’s music, which was compiled on the album Songs from the Source of the Nile, can now be found on display and for purchase on websites like ARC Music and Amazon.com.
When Magoola came back to Uganda in 2007, she immediately went back to her performance with the Afrigo Band, where she continued to perform every Friday and Saturday night.
After her experience overseas, she believed Ugandans squandered too much time and didn’t put in enough effort. She started dividing her time between Kampala and Iganga, where she oversaw the Walugogo Primary Teacher Training College which she started in 2009.
In 2009, Zanzibar’s Sauti za Busara event included Rachel and her band. Her songs incorporated zouk and reggae as well as dialects and regional rhythms from every area of Uganda.
Rachel also served as the host of Capital Radio programmes like Kampala’s Top Twenty and The Morning Crew. Additional radio appearances include those on Radio Sanyu’s African Express, Star FM’s Munakatemba, Dembe FM, and BBC’s Focus on Africa in March 2003.
On Radio Simba’s Countdown Africa, “Obangaina” was chosen as the show’s top song.
In 2020, Magoola announced her plans to join leadership so that she could empower her community with purposeful leadership. She however promised to continue with her music career even after winning the elections since it was also part of her contribution to society.
On January 14, 2021, she won the General Elections and was chosen as the Member of Parliament for Bugweri District, on the National Resistance Movement Party ticket.
Achievements and Awards
One of the songs from her debut album Inhaife, “Obangaina,” became a national smash hit and was possibly the biggest hit in the history of Ugandan popular music.
For thirty days straight, Obaingaina topped Capital Radio’s Coca-Cola Hot Seven Daily Countdown, setting a record for Ugandan FM stations.
On the millennium countdown, it was also chosen as the Song of the Millennium as Ykee Benda would later in 2021 make a Re-do of Obangaina as one of the songs in his album Kirabo making it a hit once more.
The “Inhaife” and “Vooto” video promos were heavily played on terrestrial TV stations, commercial stations like WBS, and national TV network UTV.
Rachel Magoola has frequently been mentioned in regional newspapers. She was selected as one of the 100 most important women for the years 1998 to 1990 in a New Vision poll. She was also selected as one of the top 25 celebrities in Uganda in 2001.
She composed the song “Take Me As I Am” to raise awareness for the Uganda Sickle Cell Association (SAU). The song was initially sung in 2002 at the SAU launch event sponsored by the British Council.
The world’s foremost expert on sickle cell disease, Emeritus Professor Graham Serjeant, has expressed his admiration for “Take Me As I Am” in considerable detail.
One of Rachel’s other singles, “Bakulimba,” was chosen to be included on the CD Flavours of Sound put together by the Commonwealth Secretariat because of its words of caution regarding adolescent relationships and the risks they pose to young people.
Later, Rachel penned “I Am Not A Toy” for the girl education movement, and “Under the Sand” was an attempt to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and a plea for young people to modify their conduct. She also composed “Treat for Life,” a new song on HIV/AIDS.
Rachael Magoola has been honoured within Afrigo for many years and on March 8, 2020—International Women’s Day—she was presented with a medal by the nation’s leader, President Yoweri Museveni.
Rachael Magoola’s Albums
- Inhaife (1997)
- Tyenda Wundi (1998)
- Tonyiiga (2000)
- Atubembe (2001)
- Songs from the Source of the Nile (2005)
- Eisadha (2008)
- Resilience: Songs of Uganda is her seventh and newest solo album.
Rachel Magoola’s Songs
- Obangaina
- Vooto
- Inhaife
- Ekizino
- Tonyiiga
- Akiiki
- Emaali
- Jangu Eno
- Gwendayira
- Tuleerwani
- Asante
- Imbalu
- Akasajja
- Mugati gwa Butter
- Noyo omulungi
- Jim
- Oswadde Nyo
- Otuuse
- Muduku
- Bufuubi
- Bwobule’sente
- Walinkobye
- Akatabo
- Mirembe
- Kati Kantwaala
- Endagaano
- Sunsuuni
- Endagaano – reprise
- Ndisaaw’omwoyo
- Work work
- Yantamiiza
- Teri Mubi
Rachael Magoola, who celebrated 30 years on stage in 2021, considers her ability to endure in the volatile music business and to perform for both young and old audiences while remaining relevant as her biggest achievement.
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