Sandra Nankoma

Sandra Nankoma, previously known as Sandy Soul, is a Ugandan recording artist, singer-songwriter, composer, actor and performer of Afro-soul and jazz music .[2] She is well known for her single Kaddugala from her debut album Ye'nze for which she won an award for Best Female Artist in African Inspirational Music at AFRIMA Awards in 2018 .[3][4][5]

Sandra Nankoma
Born (1988-11-27) 27 November 1988
Mukono District, Uganda
Occupation(s)Singer/Songwriter, actress
SpouseBenjamin Lepez
Parent(s)Samuel Wamubirigwe, Mary Nankinga
Musical career
Genres
Years active2013–present
Labelsindependent.
Websitewww.nankomasandra.com

Career

Nankoma started performing music professionally in 2013. She performed at the Bayimba Festival of the Arts, following her collaboration with Sylvester Kabombo on hip hop song, "Fumbiro". After her first single, Season she has since recorded a number of other songs, including: Kaddugala, Musaiza Wei'ka, Babylon, and Mercedes (featured on RNW ‘s My Song program on YouTube[6]).

Sandra Nankoma toured Uganda and performed at many festivals including the Bayimba Festival of the Arts [7] Milege World Music Festival organized by Milege, Pearl Rhythm Festival, World Music Day celebrations.[8]

In 2014, Nankoma formed a band, performing as Sandy Soul. As Sandy Soul, Nankoma toured Africa, performing in cities including Nairobi, Arusha, Abidjan, Kigali and making a one-off appearance in Paris. In 2016, she performed at the MASA Arts Festival in Ivory Coast, as a part of Afroman Spice, a Female theatre company she co-founded. Afroman Spice campaign for social change, with a focus on feminism and women's issues. Later that year she performed at Ubumuntu Festival and at the Kigali Up Festival as Sandy Soul.

In 2017 Nankoma took up a music residence in Nairobi called the Soul Train. Here she collaborated with a number of East, West and South African artists including Jojo Abot (Ghana), Blinky Bill (Kenya), Jackie Manyelope, Prisca Ojwang and DJ Kampire. Sandra Nankoma was also an award winner at Visa Pour La Creation, an awards ceremony for African and Caribbean Artists.

In 2018, she released her debut studio album, Ye'nze which was mastered and released in both Uganda and France. Kaddugala (which translates to Melanin), released as an anthem to dark skinned girls and a strong statement against bleaching, was nominated in the 2018 AFRIMAS 'All Africa Music Awards' AFRIMA 2018. Ye'nze also won Nankoma an AFRIMA award for 'Best Female Artist in African Inspirational Music'. Nankoma began touring Ye'nze in 2018.[9][10]

Acting career

Nankoma has also performed in numerous theatre plays and musicals. She was a founding member of Afroman Spice, a feminist drama group, along with Rashida Namulondo and Linda Nabasa. Together the group performed plays, musicals and poetry about social issues affecting Uganda and Africa at large.[11] Nankoma's band Sandy Soul has performed with the group in Uganda, Kenya and Ivory Coast.[12]

Personal life and Activism

Sandra Nakoma was born and brought up in the Mukono district of central Uganda. Because of her dark skin, she was bullied in school and has since campaigned against racism - including with her song Kaddugala, an anthem for all black women facing racial discrimination.[13] Nankoma is an alumna of Uganda Christian University, Mukono, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Fine Art and Design, with a major in sculpture.

Discography

Awards
  • Visa Pour La Creation by Institute Francaise France 2017 (Won)
  • AFRIMA Award for Best Female Artist in African Inspirational Music 2018 (Won)
  • AFRIMA Award for Best Female Artist in Eastern Africa 2018 (Nominated)

References
  1. Musasizi, Simon. "Uganda: Sandy Soul Brimming With Raw Talent". AllAfrica.
  2. Kaggwa, Andrew. "Sandy Soul gets home". Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  3. "Superstar",". Tsup Ug. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  4. Justus Lyatuu. "Sandra Nankoma does it for melanin". The Observer. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  5. Eric Geno. "Uganda's Sandra Nankoma Shines At AFRIMA Awards". The Tower Post. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. "Sandy Soul: 'Women must be independent'". Wazaonline. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  7. "The 7th LaBa! Arts Festival - "Open Studio"". Goethe.
  8. NDUGGA, ARAFAT. "When streets turned into dancing halls". Editorial. Daily Monitor. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  9. "Sandra Nankoma drops new album". The East African. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  10. "Sandra Nankoma Live in Concert". Events in Kenya. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  11. "Afroman Spice show brings chronicles of a black woman". Observer Ug. Observer Ug. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  12. "AFROMAN SPICE IN IVORY COAST for the MASA FESTIVAL". Indanabasa. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  13. "Nankoma tackles stigma against dark-skinned women in her art". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
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