Shwento – a rising Mbarara-based trio – has big ambitions

Shwento, a vocal trio made up of three brilliant Mbarara males, dreams of conquering Kampala with their love songs. (Shwento – a rising Mbarara-based trio – has big ambitions)

A group of artistic friends sat under a tree in Mbarara city, western Uganda, during the lockdown.

These young hearts murmured wonderful tunes to mother earth, thanking her for the gift of music, art, and life, and a concept of an african creative collective that would create melodies, marches, and movements was formed.

Shwento Banjo, Shwento Bowman, and Shwento Simba traveled from Mbarara to Kampala in search of an opportunity for someone to hear what they had made while the rest of the world was on vacation.

‘SHWENTO 2020,’ their first body of work, was recorded at Masters Music Studios in Ntinda, Kampala.

Shwento is a collection of creative minds that began in March 2020, at the commencement of the COVID pandemic.

Banjo, Simba, and Bowman lead the group, which includes singers, songwriters, DJs, producers, and instrumentalists.

Banjo, whose true name is Agaba Collins, describes “Shwento” as “Uncle” in Runyakore. “Shwento” was created to represent the position of an “Uncle” in society.

“We are forming a family through music, art, relationships, and all creative messaging through many art routes,” Banjo says.

“Shwento is bigger than just Shwento,” he continues. We’ll have Shwenkazi (Aunt) and Shwenkuru (Grandfather), as well as any other variants.”

“Shwento is supposed to create African art in a very urban and modern sense that it can be related to even from as far as Korea or Japan,” Bowman, whose actual name is Aremwaki Gilbert, believes.

Real names of Simba Simbaraishe Goodson, a Zimbabwean, believes in the power of brotherhood and the bonds that can be formed through art and music.

He found buddies in Shwento and has been at ease with his art and his own South African attitude.

The “SHWENTO 2020” album was written, composed, recorded, mixed, and mastered at Masters studios and will be released in December 2020.

With successful songs like Mestil and Anytime, the Shwento Boys composing prowess was put to the test under the tutelage of Masters in-house songwriting team led by the renowned David Makueta.

The music masterminds behind the sound of this album were Lawraid Vybz and Skillz on The Beat, who created chords and melodies for tracks like “Evil,” “Nanaira,” and a Chef Barry remix for “Move.”

The trio is eager to break into the mainstream industry and promises to do everything necessary to achieve their goal. (Shwento – a rising Mbarara-based trio – has big ambitions – celebrity jazz ug )