Pulse logo
Pulse Region

When Chameleone hired Aziz Azion for 3-month Europe tour, evaded payment

Nkumira Omukwano, produced by Benon Mugumbya, was Aziz Azion's breakthrough song after quitting Jeckaki Band under which he was hired by Jose Chameleone
Aziz Azion and Jose Chameleone
Aziz Azion and Jose Chameleone

The tour lasted three months but, according to Azion's interview with Vybe Life Ug, he didn't pay them. 

Denmark, Finland and Sweden were among the countries they toured.

Chameleone later promised to pay them after backing him up on shows he would do in Uganda, but he still didn't make good on his promise

Said Azion, real name Aziz Mukisa: "... It passed and I don't really want to talk about it..." 

Aziz Azion, who was born July 27, 1986, started out as a guitarist under the mentorship of one Eriasafu Kibirige who owned a band called Makuge. He also learned dancing while in this group.

He later started going to Nile Theatre and someone introduced him to the late Paul Kafeero. Kafeero gave him Shs20k ahead of a show his band was going to perform at.

Azion had been told he doesn't pay instrumentalists, so he was shocked when he received the cash. This was about 2001. On arrival to the show, he noticed the lead guitarist of Kafeero's band wasn't around.

He picked up the guitar and when Kafeero listened to him playing, he appointed him the lead guitarist. His work with Kulabako Guitar Singers, Kafeero's band, began there and then.

Then he started picking interest in Diamond Production of the late Kato Lubwama, as Dr. Tee, who was its lead guitarist, was leaving.

At Diamonds, Aziz Azion worked with the likes of Michael Kinene, Betty Mpologoma, Eddie Yawe, Rebecca Jingo and Dan Kabenge.

Here, also picked interest in backup singing before Musa Kavuma offered a bigger pay cheque so that he joins Eagles Production.

Eagles didn't make good on the promise, so he started discussing with friends about starting their own band. Jeckaki Band was formed.

Nkumira Omukwano, produced by Benon Mugumbya, was his breakthrough song but it wasn't the first. His first song was a reggae song called Silinamulala, followed by Monday, then Cheza Dada, a reggaeton collabo with Maurice Hasa. He had worked with Hasa under Jeckaki.

Next Article