Today it�s me leaves audience emotional at Maitisong
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday April 27, 2015 14:40
The play follows the life of a Ugandan man called Phillip also known as Philly Lutaaya who was one of Africa’s most famous musicians in the 1980’s. It tells the story of how he used music to touch hearts and literally save lives. Unfortunately, AIDS cut his life short in December 1989. He was buried in a white suit and gold watch.
The play started off as a memorial service for Lutyaaya where his mother played by Kgomotso Tshwenyego together with his fans, doctors and nurses told the story of his life. Lutyaaya was the first Ugandan artist to migrate to Sweden, and pursue his music career.
He was later diagnosed with HIV.
An account given by his mother shows that Lutyaaya loved music, even though his family at the time did not approve of his passion. Tshwenyego’s narration tells the story of how the musician stole many hearts. She said seeing her son suffer and die from that disease was the worst pain she ever felt as at the time, families affected by AIDS were discriminated against. Lutyaaya like many of Uganda’s popular musicians started as a nightclub singer. An actor who played his doctor said even though the musician had sores and wounds on his legs, he did not give up on life. He was determined to spread message through his music.
The other actor playing, his nurse from Tanzania said she remembered Lutyaaya looking fragile. She said she could understand what he was going through as her husband died of AIDS.
“At the time people were afraid of AIDS. There was a lot of stigma and discrimination. AIDS was called sherim. Nobody wanted to be associated with a person who had sherim,” she narrated. She said young couples should not leave their partners when they find out that they are HIV positive, because they can live healthy without being infected if they take precautions.
During that time, Indians also faced challenges as the third President of Uganda Idi Amin Dada chased them out of his country. One actor who played an Indian who was born in Uganda and dating a Ugandan woman narrated the ordeal.
Even though both families did not approve of their relationship, both families agreed on one thing, Lutyaaya’s music.
Molosi who played as Lutyaaya said his life became difficult after he publicly disclosed his status.
He said the media used his status against him and destroyed him. He explained that he did not lose hope and decided to use songs to spread his music.
Molosi told the audience that the idea of an artist using their talents to make someone else’s life better is close to his heart because ‘these days’ artists seem to have lost the plot about what an artist does.
“This show illustrates how popularity should not be a goal, but a means to something bigger like service. Botswana is at a critical point where if the condescending resistance against the use of the arts for education persists, we are doomed so this is why Batswana should care about this performance because Lutaaya’s story is a master-class in how art creates society and bolsters our shared values,” he said.