Kasomi
JT Founder
THE OBSESSIONS, pioneer dance group for youth Uganda
SUCCESS TIP 40 of 40>>TEAMWORK
when a group of people work together cohesively, towards a common goal, creating a positive working atmosphere, and supporting each other to combine individual strengths to enhance team performance.
One of the first groups to metamorphosize from a dancing group to singers, it initially had male dancers as well. Initially made up of Cleopatra Koheirwe, Brenda Nambi, Sharon Nalukenge, Jackie Tusiime and Hellen Lukoma, the group attained quite some success.
Their highest point came with the song Jangu, Jangu. But first Koheirwe left in 2007, and was followed by Nambi and Lukoma, who formed another group HB Toxic. Sheba Karungi, Daisy Muber and Fatuma Gulam would later join the group, but eventually they also left, leaving only Nalukenge and Tusiime. Nalukenge would later feature in Big Brother Africa.Also,Sharon O later made it to Big Brother too.
The genesis
The year was 1999. The men who made it very famous; Michael Kasaija, Martin Mugonyi, Charlie Muzahura, Arthur Kanyesigire and Ronnie Mulindwa started dancing in Ronnie’s mother’s garage in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb. They were joined by Pamela Basasirwaki, Isabella Nabuloli, Judith Amaniyo and Brenda Nisiime and together they transformed dance and drama as Ugandans knew it.
Isabella, who also designed the catchy costumes that popularised the group as much as their looks and talent, started a relationship with founder Ronnie. They have a daughter together. With the souring of that affair, Isabella – a pillar in the group – left and with her, Pamela, Judith and Brenda eventually exited.
By then Obsessions as a brand was selling hot. Replacing the girls was no steep climb. A set of younger, wasp-waisted lookers auditioned and the new look Obsessions girls in the form of Natasha Sinayobye, Sharon Salmon, Helen Lukoma, Jackie Tusiime, Cleopatra Kyoheirwe and Brenda Nambi was born.
What many feared would be a collapse after the Isabella et al exit, turned out to be a rebirth. The younger girls were more daring in costumes, sassier in dance, thus pulling in male fans in droves. They could dance, act and even sing!
As a group they released Nod Ya Head and House girl, among other hits. This won them tremendous support as they danced their way into people’s hearts.
The video of Nod Ya Head received great airplay on EATV, making the group popular across East Africa.
But the old demons were not exorcised. Business and pleasure mixed, emotions boiled and it was back to square one – or so critics saw it.
Ronnie was now seeing Sharon and Michael and Natasha were official.
Natasha soon quit with fiancé Michael to start the Kombat Dance group. The hard times were on.
But the group went ahead to release Ntuyo Zaffe, which climaxed with a launch at Hotel Africana, but that was like bidding farewell to the rest of the boys.
That left Ronnie and Remigious Lubega, who is more active in the group’s theatre productions and at management level.
From a dance, drama and singing group, Obsessions was repositioned to focus more on the girls, who seemed to have attracted quite an audience with their singing and raunchy videos.
The girls defied the cramped confines and delivered.
Popular for their coordinated waving of hands and wiggling, the girls released a number of singles, hottest of them Jangu and Wekuume.
Credit: Motivation Foundation UG
SUCCESS TIP 40 of 40>>TEAMWORK
when a group of people work together cohesively, towards a common goal, creating a positive working atmosphere, and supporting each other to combine individual strengths to enhance team performance.
One of the first groups to metamorphosize from a dancing group to singers, it initially had male dancers as well. Initially made up of Cleopatra Koheirwe, Brenda Nambi, Sharon Nalukenge, Jackie Tusiime and Hellen Lukoma, the group attained quite some success.
Their highest point came with the song Jangu, Jangu. But first Koheirwe left in 2007, and was followed by Nambi and Lukoma, who formed another group HB Toxic. Sheba Karungi, Daisy Muber and Fatuma Gulam would later join the group, but eventually they also left, leaving only Nalukenge and Tusiime. Nalukenge would later feature in Big Brother Africa.Also,Sharon O later made it to Big Brother too.
The genesis
The year was 1999. The men who made it very famous; Michael Kasaija, Martin Mugonyi, Charlie Muzahura, Arthur Kanyesigire and Ronnie Mulindwa started dancing in Ronnie’s mother’s garage in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb. They were joined by Pamela Basasirwaki, Isabella Nabuloli, Judith Amaniyo and Brenda Nisiime and together they transformed dance and drama as Ugandans knew it.
Isabella, who also designed the catchy costumes that popularised the group as much as their looks and talent, started a relationship with founder Ronnie. They have a daughter together. With the souring of that affair, Isabella – a pillar in the group – left and with her, Pamela, Judith and Brenda eventually exited.
By then Obsessions as a brand was selling hot. Replacing the girls was no steep climb. A set of younger, wasp-waisted lookers auditioned and the new look Obsessions girls in the form of Natasha Sinayobye, Sharon Salmon, Helen Lukoma, Jackie Tusiime, Cleopatra Kyoheirwe and Brenda Nambi was born.
What many feared would be a collapse after the Isabella et al exit, turned out to be a rebirth. The younger girls were more daring in costumes, sassier in dance, thus pulling in male fans in droves. They could dance, act and even sing!
As a group they released Nod Ya Head and House girl, among other hits. This won them tremendous support as they danced their way into people’s hearts.
The video of Nod Ya Head received great airplay on EATV, making the group popular across East Africa.
But the old demons were not exorcised. Business and pleasure mixed, emotions boiled and it was back to square one – or so critics saw it.
Ronnie was now seeing Sharon and Michael and Natasha were official.
Natasha soon quit with fiancé Michael to start the Kombat Dance group. The hard times were on.
But the group went ahead to release Ntuyo Zaffe, which climaxed with a launch at Hotel Africana, but that was like bidding farewell to the rest of the boys.
That left Ronnie and Remigious Lubega, who is more active in the group’s theatre productions and at management level.
From a dance, drama and singing group, Obsessions was repositioned to focus more on the girls, who seemed to have attracted quite an audience with their singing and raunchy videos.
The girls defied the cramped confines and delivered.
Popular for their coordinated waving of hands and wiggling, the girls released a number of singles, hottest of them Jangu and Wekuume.
Credit: Motivation Foundation UG