Ronald Magada (born May 7, 1987), professionally known as Maro Uganda,[1][2] is an Ugandan musician, songwriter and performer, currently based in Bonn Bad godesberg Germany.[3] He is known for his songs, "Mubbi Bubbi" featuring David Lutalo, "Rising star", "Kyokoba", "Anjagala" and has done international features like "Chip in" featuring Mark Forster and Maurice Kirya,[4] "Imani" by BSMG,[5] among others.[6][7][8]

Maro Uganda
Background information
Birth nameRonald Magada
Also known as
  • Maro
  • Ronald Magada
Born (1987-05-07) May 7, 1987 (age 37)
Buwolero, Jinja, Uganda
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • Music producer
  • Songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2007–present
LabelsHumble Management (2013–2015)

Music career

edit

Maro launched his music career in 2007, juggling between work at the cineplex cinemas garden city mall kampala, campus and got a breakthrough in 2010 with "Toneraga: ft Empress and Mikie Wine[9][10] In 2011, he signed with "West end entertainment" of Aziz Azion, a prominent vocalist, writer and guitarist in Uganda and released his first single titled "Sulabulungi" meaning "Good night", a love song. This was followed by the Lusoga (his native language) hit single "Biweewo" meaning getting finished with something; in this case, with obstacles in love. His second collaboration was with Mya Baganda of the Blu*3 in 2012.[11] He later released "Genda Ewamwe" which was one of his major hit songs in 2013[12] winning him a chance at his first concert that took place Freedom City in September 2013.[13][14][9] In the same year he was nominated in the Buzz Teenies Awards and right after the successful concert, he won the award for Best collaboration of the year in the next weeks "Why" featuring Ugandan hip hop star "Gravity Omutujju at the first ever Club Music Video Awards held on the 20th September 2013. He released a single "Rising star" in celebration of his success, speaking about his journey, embedding clips of the awards ceremony and the major concert tours he had by then.

Studio albums

edit
List of Studio Albums with selected details
Title Details
Sula Bulungi[15]
Genda ewamwe [16]
Kyokoba[16]
Kamboyine[17]
Atwooki[16]
#89gooddecision[16]
Departures[18][19]

Early life and educational background

edit

Maro was born in Buwolero village, Kagoma subcounty in Jinja to James Magada and Janet Babuleka.[20][21] His father serves in the Uganda Police Force. He is the eldest of 13 children. Maro attended Nsambya Barracks Nursery School, joined St. Peter Nsambya Primary school, did his PLE at Bupadengo Primary School in Kamuli District, White Land College (currently known as Seroma College) for one year and later joined Light College Mukono doing his UACE.[22] Buloba High School where he sat for his UACE 2006.[23] In 2015, Maro graduated from Makerere University with a bachelor's degree in Development Studies.[24][19]

Honors

edit
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2015 Uganda Music Awards Best AfroPop Song Nzirango Nominated [25]
2015 Uganda Music Awards Best Regional Artiste Central Won [26]
2016 HiPipo Awards Best Hiphop Song Eh Mama Won [27]
2016 HiPipo Music Awards Best R&B Song Addicted Won [27]
2016 HiPipo Music Awards Best Afrobeat Song Kamboyine Nominated [28][29]
2019 HiPipo Music Awards Best RnB Song Nsiima ft. Remah Nominated [30]
2020 HiPipo Music Awards Best RnB Song Anjagala Nominated [31]

Community works

edit

He is an active member of VIVA CONAGUA (an international NGO based in Germany) providing clean water, promoting sanitation and proper hygiene through art and sport. He has worked with Uganda Hands For Hope Namuwongo, Uganda Women Cancer Support Organisation, Inter Aid on Refugees and PLAN International (Uganda) with emphasis on empowerment of girls.[9][18]

References

edit
  1. ^ [1] [dead link]
  2. ^ "Be still and listen". Sofar Sounds.
  3. ^ "'Salvador is a traitor. He stole my idea' - Maro - New Vision Official". Archived from the original on 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  4. ^ "Maurice Kirya", Wikipedia, 2021-12-03, retrieved 2021-12-08
  5. ^ "BSMG", Wikipedia (in German), 2021-03-13, retrieved 2021-12-08
  6. ^ "Maro". Music In Africa. May 18, 2015.
  7. ^ Ssejjombwe, Isaac. "Maro has arrived – Sqoop – Get Uganda entertainment news, celebrity gossip, videos and photos".
  8. ^ Kasadah, Badru (June 29, 2017). "Singer Maro flies Uganda flag high in Germany".
  9. ^ a b c "Maro: Proud of his rags to RNB tale". Archived from the original on 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  10. ^ "Maro to release documentary – Sqoop – Get Uganda entertainment news, celebrity gossip, videos and photos". Archived from the original on 2020-12-05. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  11. ^ "RnB Singer Maro Gears Up to Mark His 10 Years of Music". Chimpreports.com. January 7, 2020.
  12. ^ Muriisa, Habre. "Maro Mark's 10 Years In Music As He Serenades Fans On Valentine's Day". Chano8.com.
  13. ^ ABRAHAM MUTALYEBWA (January 7, 2020). "Maro to celebrate decade in music industry on Valentine's Day". Pmldaily.com.
  14. ^ "Uganda's Maro goes on another humanitarian drive". Music In Africa. July 12, 2018.
  15. ^ Ahumuza, Allan. "Photos: When Maro Released The '98 Good Decisions' Album". Chano8.com.
  16. ^ a b c d "'Salvador is a Traitor. He Stole My Idea' Maro". Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  17. ^ "Maro Set to Release 16 Track Album this December". Chimpreports.com. December 3, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Maro hits right note on "Departures" album before trip to Germany". Daily Monitor.
  19. ^ a b GILBERT KAZIBWE (December 25, 2020). "Maro serenades fans as he scientifically releases 'Departures'album at his home". Pmldaily.com.
  20. ^ Lincolin, Zamboki Jr. (July 9, 2018). "Musician Maro Partners With Sole Hope To Kick Out Jiggers In Busoga". Mbu.ug.
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-28. Retrieved 2021-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "Ten Things You Did Not Know About Maro". September 12, 2013.
  23. ^ Kasibante, Fahad. "Maro celebrates a decade in the music industry – Sunrise". Sunrise.ug.
  24. ^ "Singer Maro Graduates from MUK". Archived from the original on 2015-01-24. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  25. ^ Lawrence, Kalema (February 25, 2017). "Bobi Wine, Maro nominated in Oscar awards 2017". Ugandabuzz.com.
  26. ^ "Winners at HiPipo Music Awards 2015 | TheLead". Thelead.ug.
  27. ^ a b [2] [dead link]
  28. ^ "Uganda's HiPipo Awards unveil nominees for 2016 edition". Music In Africa. December 7, 2015.
  29. ^ [3] [dead link]
  30. ^ "2019 HiPipo Music Awards Uganda: All the winners". Music In Africa. March 19, 2019.
  31. ^ "HiPipo Music Awards 2020: All the winners". Music In Africa. June 1, 2020.
edit