Following the passing of Moses Matovu, Joanita Kawalya has fully assumed the mantle of Afrigo Band’s ultimate matriarch , serving as the primary custodian of its organizational discipline and artistic heritage. Having been with the ensemble for four decades since joining in 1986, Kawalya is no longer just a premier frontwoman; she is the operational and emotional anchor steering the band through its most challenging transition. Her matriarchal role manifests across several critical functions:
Afrigo’s historic 50-year longevity has always been credited to a strict, corporate-style work ethic—a rarity in the often chaotic local music industry. Kawalya actively enforces these high standards:

She demands rigorous rehearsal schedules, ensuring that the complex, multi-layered brass and vocal arrangements are executed with flawless precision.

She upholds the band’s reputation for punctuality, dress code, and professional conduct, maintaining their status as the premier choice for corporate galas and state functions.

With the old guard thinning, Kawalya has taken personal responsibility for grooming younger talent to ensure the “Afrigo Academy” stays open:

She directly mentors younger backing vocalists and dancers, teaching them how to command large stages without losing vocal control.

She actively instills a love for authentic live instrumentation in younger recruits, guiding them away from the shortcut of relying on pre-recorded digital backing tracks.

As the most recognizable face of the band, Kawalya handles the critical public-facing and institutional responsibilities:

She acts as the primary link between the band, the families of deceased founding members, and the public during national moments of mourning.

She manages the delicate balance of keeping Afrigo relevant to contemporary audiences while fiercely protecting the vintage legacy that makes the band a national treasure.

Kawalya’s presence ensures that even as Afrigo enters unchartered territory, its soul remains fiercely intact.

Joanita Kawalya is immediately stepping into her leadership role to guide the Afrigo Band through a series of high-profile public tribute performances honoring the late Moses Matovu. In the wake of his passing, the band is channeling their grief into live instrumentation, assuring the public that Papa Moi’s musical legacy remains active

Following the official funeral procession to Kyanja, the arts community is organizing a massive, multi-artist public jam session outside the Uganda National Theatre. Joanita Kawalya will front the full Afrigo orchestra to play through Matovu’s extensive 50-year catalog for fans and mourners.
As the band transitions into October, Kawalya is steering Afrigo back to its traditional live residencies to anchor Kampala’s nightlife and institutionalize Matovu’s legacy:
Planned Afrigo Band Activations
The band is set to resume its historic weekend residency at Club Obligato. Under Kawalya’s matriarchal guidance, these Saturday night sets will serve as open weekly celebrations of the classic rumba brass setups that Matovu spent his life perfecting
Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) to establish a permanent historical exhibition dedicated to the history of the Cranes Band, Afrigo Band, and Matovu’s personal brass instruments
To ensure that his live music philosophy remains active among the youth, the Uganda National Federation of Muscians Foundation  is institutionalizing an annual memorial calendar: Matovu Live Music Lecture Series: An annual seminar pairing veteran instrumentalists with young bedroom music producers to teach live notation, horn orchestration, and band management and the Annual September Tribute Gala: Starting in September 2027, the federation intends to sponsor a multi-genre live festival where contemporary urban artists will perform alongside the surviving brass section of the Afrigo Band to keep the classic rumba catalog in active rotation.
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