Achilla
Orru
http://www.achillaorru.com
Discography
When
Achilla Orru was growing up among the Karimojong people in Labwor County
in northern Uganda, the birth of the apaa idomo (the multi-coloured
bull) was an auspicious event celebrated throughout the village.
With the release of his first album, Achilla Orru has earned the title,
Apaa Idomo, for like the multi-coloured bull, he is a musician to behold
and listen to. Moreover, Orru's colourfully crafted music demands the
rapt attention from everyone. His latest release Te-Kwarro honours the
efforts of past generations and is dedicated to the preservation and
innovation of the lokembe (thumb piano) tradition. Te-Kwarro, when directly
translated, simply means 'the cultural foundations'.
Having lost sight at age seven, Orru deliberately set out to conquer
the world, setting foot on four continents and, during his extensive
journey, learned many languages and completed his university studies.
Most importantly, he indulged his passion for music and drama, mastering
the lokembe, the guitar, drums and a myriad of traditional instruments.
In 1975 the lokembe earned a special place in Orru's heart. This was
the year he won the Junior Award for the Thumb Piano at the Uganda National
Music Festival in Kampala. There was no turning back as Orru nurtured
his talent and widened the scope of his repertoire until he could make
the lokembe "sing in any language".
In Orru's hands, the lokembe is transformed into the very embodiment
of spiritual reawakening of his traditional culture. "When I sing
with it, when I hear it, there is a part of me that becomes one with
the world around me", he says.
Indeed, Orru's voice transports the listener to the ancestral land among
the nomadic Karimojong people. True to his roots, the music combines
poetry, chants and melodic sound of the lokembe. Yet, with deft finger
movements never before attempted on the lokembe, Orru shifts the musical
landscapes to Central Africa, South Africa, India, Canada and back to
his village. Throughout the journey, the lokembe soars slowly until
it achieves a rare intoxicating brew of polyrhythm that embraces the
best in modern African music.
In Canada Achilla Orru put together a troupe of musicians known as Baana
Afrique. The group has been a favorite at events for Amnesty International,
the United Way, Canada World Youth, The Canadian National Institute
for the Blind and numerous universities. They have played for conferences
and businesses including Air Canada, Metro Toronto Zoo, Ontario Place,
Harbourfront Centre and others. Internationally, Achilla Orru &
Baana Afrique has toured Canada, Cuba, Europe and Japan. Recent performances
include music festivals, Bana y'Africa 2002 at City Hall and Afrofest
2002 at Queen's Park in Toronto. The group also performed recently at
Roy Thompson Hall and the Skydome for the Papal visit to Toronto in
2002.
Achilla Orru was the recipient of the Fiatte Memorial Award for the
Best Traditional Performer. This is considered Music Africa's most prestigious
award. In 2001, Orru composed the sound track for the Canadian documentary
Ryan's Well. In 2002, he licensed three songs for a television series,
The Barefooted Dancer.
Achilla is in the studio recording songs for a new CD to be released
in the spring of 2003.
Check
out his web site at: http://www.achillaorru.com
Achilla performed at Afrofest in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2002.
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