NAMASAGALI PRODUCTION A SUCCESS!!

Me & some of the Cast members 

So the Namasagali Old Students' Association (NOSA) production "THE HAPPY LIFE HOTEL" ended on a beautiful note on Sunday 24th June 2012. It was a fun weekend as we went on stage with poise and the moment we got off, run backstage to change into the next costume for the next scene as quickly as possible, sometimes almost colliding with each other. Hilarious sight if you ask me.

Florence Oteba being made up as Maria

I acted the role of Miss Maria on 23rd June Saturday evening and 24th Sunday evening. Another old student of Namasagali, Florence Oteba, acted on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. By the way, most people tell us we look like sisters. :)When I was not acting, I would dance.
The turn up was not disappointing either and the audience was quite engrossed in the play too that it made it all the more enjoyable.

Miria Matembe

The finale on Sunday evening had politician Miria Matembe (former Minister of Ethics & Integrity) as the Guest of honour--yes, she is an Old Girl of Namasagali College. She came up with Father Grimes at the end of the play to give a speech and it was quite humorous as she shared her first day at the school years ago. 
If you missed out, it's so sad but come next time. ;)

Joan, Joyce, Vickie & me (dressed in white as Miss Maria)

There might be another production towards the end of this year... if all goes well. Hope I see you there then.
A big thank you to The Observer, New Vision, Daily Monitor, Radiocity 97fm, and Moses Serugo of www.kampalaone.com  for their support & coverage. Strive Regardless.... :)
Below are links to some articles written about the play.

Father Grimes & I

http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19431:namasagali-alumni-in-thrilling-play&catid=42:sizzling-entertainment&Itemid=74

http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/06/namasagali-old-students-release-a-play-50671.html

THE HAPPY LIFE HOTEL play

If you love theatre, then you should not miss out on this play!  Filled with lots of dance, humor and drama, THE HAPPY LIFE HOTEL is a must-watch! It's on this weekend at the National Theatre, Kampala starting Friday 22nd June:7pm, Sat. 23rd 7pm, Sun. 24th: 3pm & 7pm Tickets: 15,000/= at the National Theatre box office. All proceeds will go to the Father Grimes Foundation. (Father Grimes is the former headmaster.)
The cast is made up of old students form Namasagali College, a school that was well known for its excellence in the Arts, that is: Music, dance & drama.Most of the former students are now prominent figures in society.They include: Seanice Kacungira (known as a radio presenter at Sanyu FM & she also worked Capital FM Kenya, an entrepreneur & owner of SUQA Salon), Matthew Nabwiso (an actor, has starred in State Research Bureau, The Hostel series among others), Cleopatra Koheirwe (This is me, You know what I am all about so just come watch.;) You will enjoy.) and many other talented successful personalities.
Namasagali has old students in all fields such as: Patrick Bitature (a prominent businessman), Rebecca Kadaga (Speaker of Parliament) etc.... The school's motto was "Strive Regardless" and indeed we all have. Need I say more?? In other words, you will not be disappointed. Come have fun with us! I hope to see you there. xoxo
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Namasagali-Old-Students-The-Happy-Life-Hotel/249696351798383

IS LOVE ALONE ENOUGH?

 "A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself/herself — to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never because of me; to love life, to love himself/herself, to love being loved. Such a relationship is based upon freedom and can never grow in a jealous heart."-Leo F. Buscaglia
 

I love reading inspirational quotes and Leo F. Buscaglia is one of my favourite people with amazing quotes. Anyway, let's move on to what I want to share with you.

The words “I love you” carry a lot of weight… or at least used to. Not sure about now.

Long ago, a poor couple would be together all because of love; a man would do all he could to be with the woman of his life because of love; a young couple would rather die than not be with each other, because of love (Romeo & Juliette)… Need I say more? You get the drift am on, yes? Good.

But I often ponder “Is love enough”? In these tough inflation times, can you be in a relationship if there is no money?

There is a lot that goes on in a relationship. The beginning is the most exciting for many couples; can’t keep apart for too long, talk on phone for hours on end, call each other all the lovey-dovey names such as; sweetie, honey, sugar, baby, munchkin etc…. New lovers are so obvious and easy to pick out from a crowd, citing the PDA and all.

Today, the pressure is on…. LOVE alone does not cut it. If you cannot provide for your woman or family, or contribute financially to each other, lots of problems might arise such as resentment, unhappiness, arguments and these lead to one of the partners drifting away, cheating or other.

Falling short in the financial department is a no-no hence people working their butts off to make a good living. Men are out to impress, splashing money or trying to prove to their mates that they got it.

It seems today, one has to be able to sustain the demands that come within the relationship. If both the man and woman are financially stable, the better; but it is important they agree on how to handle their finances. I believe joint accounts are not always a great idea because when things go wrong or if you break up, one of you might put the other in jeopardy by using all the money or taking off with it or whatever.

Relationships are so complicated but I guess we complicate them with all the expectations and standards we set. The simplest of things is usually the best. It is not that simple to just be “in the moment” and enjoy without worry, suspicion, jealousy and so on. Well, let me stop going on and on, I just want you to tell me if you think a relationship in this day and age, can survive solely on LOVE.

By the way, would you rather be single or in a relationship?

FYI, I do not know which I prefer…. Lol. Both have their huddles to overcome but being a sucker of love, perhaps I prefer to be in a relationship....

xoxo

Cleopatra.

"Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyse your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness."-Leo F. Buscaglia

"The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships."-Anthony Robbins

HAPPILY NEVER AFTER?!

Does love like that which was or is between our parents, grandparents and great grandparents still exist??

I think not.

I used to admire how my guardians and grandparents in my life related and always seemed to be so happy despite the circumstances. Their love was strong, genuine, true and stood all tests of time.

Today, no matter how long you have known someone, it will take a stranger to draw you two apart with the silliest of words/acts or circumstances.

I honestly tell you this, I used to be a hopeless romantic—yes, USED to be but not anymore. I believed in true love, fairy tale endings and happily ever after but blame it on all the cartoons I watched growing up. J Well, having been raised by a single mother (was not her choice, my father was murdered under unclear circumstances during the Obote II regime slightly before I was born. Yes, she was pregnant with me the time he was killed so you can imagine the hell she went through). I asked her lots of questions about my father from the age of six but I only got to know the whole bitter truth when I was nine. At the time, I felt angry at her for never telling me but to be honest, I would not have understood the facts earlier and now I look back and imagine the pain she felt, the loneliness for having lost her one true love. Yes, back then, at least they stuck it out and did the needful like seek permission from the girl’s parents to take her hand before anything happened.

Today, oh well, it is a whole different story! Morals are slowly but surely going down the drain and LOVE is confused with infatuation, status and material things. Men feel pressured to impress their fellow men (ego) by being with as many women as they can (in all aspects; sleep with, hang out with, unnecessarily have kids with… etc.) but never commit or if they do, it won’t be long before the bond is broken and is then called a ‘Divorce’, and this is due to petty issues that our parents, grandparents and great grandparents could bare and sort out amicably. I ask myself, ‘what is it? What is different? Why can’t relationships last? Why is there no more loyalty and fidelity in relationships these days?’ I f you know the answers, do share with the rest of us.

I tell you, most relationships now are ‘happily never after’. The married cheat on their partners, those dating have secrets and act more like roommates than romantic partners behind closed doors and they hardly share stuff about their life plans or hopes—in fact, with observation of most couples, the best friends of your boyfriend/girlfriend know more about what is going on in your partner’s life than you do. If I was in love, the first person I would want to share my good news or bad news with would be my other half/boyfriend/husband but today….. hmm…… Your partner might not be that supportive or attentive simply because there is someone or something else taking or consuming their time and minds. No matter how nice or good you are (man or woman), there is someone out there spending time with your partner; physically and mentally (texting, sexting, chatting via phone/internet e.t.c)!

I guess this explains why there are a lot more heartbreak and hate songs today as compared to long ago when everything was about unending love….. I rest my case. J  

What say you? Share your opinion with the rest of us please.

UMEME's back at it again!!

The new year 2012 is finally here but it is being made gloomy and boring all too quickly due to UMEME's endless load-shedding/cutting off of power supply. :(
It pains me to say this but Uganda, my country, when will we ever truly develop and be beyond such issues???
It is just the 3rd of January but electricity is going off in almost all places.
I was at work in Bugolobi then power went off, so we had to bare the noise of the generator, finally the day's work ends and am eagerly going back home, looking forward to taking a nice long shower, making myself a nice meal and sitting in my couch to watch a series but just as i turn onto the road to my house, there is total black out!!! AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!
We were promised that the Bujagali Dam would be complete by now and that the power cuts would greatly reduce or stop but considering that I have been in darkness for the past four hours in the house except for the light from my lamp and laptop, I worry that this might not be so. Are we being taken for a ride? Are the promises real? Who out there believes we will soon have no more load-shedding? Please share your sentiments and experiences with this load-shedding. I need some hope.
One thing I must commend UMEME for though is the fact that they endeavored not to load-shed during the festive season all the way from 24th DEC 2011 to 1st January 2012.... or am I wrong?? If your home area had no electricity during that time, vent and let it out here, let's share our pain. 
I would go on and on but time check now is 10:11pm and I gotta rest....... Oh and guess what? The power is back. ...... C'est la vie.
xoxo

I am NOT my hair!!

Many of us go through transformations at some point in our lives, some of us more than others. When this happens in my life, I refer to it as 'going through a transition'. Yes, I have been through it. It was in 2008 December that I decided to cut off my hair and start growing dreadlocks... some people thought me insane but then the look grew on them and now they do not want me to cut my dreads off. ;) I am powerless without the dreads & will lose my super natural strength once they are cut off. Hee hee hee heeee...

Anyway, a friend of mine recently decided to SHAVE off all his hair.... You may know him; popular guy, plays the guitar, has a soulful voice and a strong persona that you may mistake him for having a big ego but it is not bad. His name is Maurice Kirya. Some of you may say "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS HE THINKING??!!"Don't ask me, I do not know but here are my guesses:

 

1. Too tired of his hair and the heat was not helping the situation so he thought what better way than to shave it all off.

2. Had an outbreak of lice. (boo ha ha ha ha ha ha!)

3. Undergoing chemotherapy (doubt it!)

4. Got a big time film role and is required to be bald. (Hey, why not take the dollars, the hair will grow back anyway.)

5. Became a monk

6. A new look for his 2O12 album

7. Starting a new chapter in his life so this is his way of shedding off the past. (THIS MUST BE IT!)

Although it may take you a few seconds or a minute to recognize Maurice Kirya now, I personally like the new look and it has given him a strong masculine edge like that of Michael Jordan, Common, or Djimon Hounsou-- unlike the "too cute" Afro style he had before. Who comes to mind now when I see Maurice? Um, let me see... ..... Ah, yes! Boris Kodjoe--NOT that they look alike, don't get me wrong, but the facial features stand out the same way.

Lots of personalities have shaved off their hair at some point and still looked good; Lenny Kravitz, Brian McKnight, Tyrese, Bruce Willis... the list is endless.

So which look did you prefer? I do not mind either as long as he keeps making great music. He is not his hair and neither are you. It's all in the mind so you can do everything you are skilled/talented at with or without your hair! This does not mean go and do something drastic to your hair like Britney Spears did. ;)

xoxo

 

Using MUSIC to GIVE BACK!!

It is said that Christmas is a time for giving and sharing. I believe it is.
There is an air of excitement around me.... Xmas carols playing around the city, decorations in place, people shopping gifts and all.....
While I was doing my radio show a few weeks ago at Radiocity 97fm, members of Swangz Avenue (one of the best music production houses in Uganda) came to meet with my bosses about something. Later on, my colleague and I in the studio received a mention we had to read out on air and I was touched.
Swangz Avenue artists and friends compiled a special 9-track Christmas album titled Do They Know its Xmas and after I listened to it just today, (yes today, Xmas Eve, because I finally had some "me time") I felt compelled to share this with you.  
The album is being given away free of charge in exchange for a non-monetary donation in the form of clothes, shoes, warm beddings or foods that don't spoil easily.
Swangz Avenue did this as a way of reaching out and blessing the less privileged children in our community and it is an effort of theirs to brighten these children's Xmas through combination of music, clothes and food.
I find this a wonderful way of sharing and giving. My favourite songs on this album are: Joy in the Silent Night (Brian Mugenyi), Mary Did You Know (Pragmo), Oh Holy Night (Michael Ouma), Ho Ho We should all be Singing (Richy) and The King is Born Today (Benon & Vamposs).
Find out which are your favorites. Get your own copy of this Xmas album by simply donating something for the less privileged children now.
You can take your donations to Radiocity 97fm situated in Bugolobi on  Jilak House, Spring Road Tel: +256-312-970000.
OR at Tuskys Kitintale, Tuskys Ntinda, Tuskys Makerere and Uchumi supermarket.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY 2012 TO YOU ALL! :)