Meet Samuel Nalangira | Musician, Artist, and East African Music, Drum & Dance Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samuel Nalangira and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samuel, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have always been one to take risks. I started my music journey very young. I was 8 years old when scouts from a school in the city chose me from the village. I left my home to go to school where I began to learn about music. My passion was always music, started around the age of 4/5 when I would use things around my home to pretend to play instruments. Leaving home at such a young age was the beginning of my risk taking. I have learned that taking risks brings opportunities and growth. I learn so much about the world and myself by stepping outside my comfort zone. I realized that by be willing to take risks, I discover so many opportunities. I have travelled around the world sharing my passion of music. After teaching my students for 15 years, I decided it was time to focus on my music career and that is when I stayed in the United States with no real plan, except to discover opportunities. That was a big risk. I didn’t know exactly what would happen or where I would end up. I have been fortunate to have so many opportunities to make connections and share my music all over.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What makes me unique: I am a Native of Uganda, East Africa, and am a world folk musician, specializing in Ugandan folk music. Not only do I create music, perform (solo and with a band), play drums and dance; I also make my instruments and tune them in a special way. I believe this is what makes me unique. Before throwing anything away, I first think and consider what kind of instrument could I create out of this! Having the ability to build and create my instruments allows me to also fix my instruments and ensure they are maintained well. I have been performing since my childhood and teaching since the age of 15. I have toured across Europe, United States, Canada and Asia performing and leading workshops in schools, universities, festivals and community centers. I am a multi-instrumentalist and a master at many traditional instruments including the Adungu from northern Uganda, Akogo from Eastern Uganda, Endingidi, Endongo, Amadinda (xylophone), percussion and Ngoni. I have developed a unique approach and personal techniques on most of these instruments.
I am proud of my ability to create. I create unique music, I build my instruments, I tune my instruments in a unique way that allows me to play my instruments differently then the traditional way. I am also proud of teaching kids. I love kids and I have a way to connect with them. By creating a connection with them, it allows us to speak through music. It is so fun to create music together and to see how they light up when learning a new instrument, or drumming and dancing.
Getting to where I am at today was not easy but it was worth it. Following my heart gave me the ease and comfort to keep going. Sometimes there is no or little money, sometimes connections don’t turn out how you thought they would, but this is all part of the business. And it is certainly part of the risk taking talked about earlier. I always have to use my heart when making decisions on what to do, what is right for me, what is right for the world, etc. I overcome the challenges by using my heart and passion for music. Music is a stress reliever for me and these are just a few ways I have been able to persevere and overcome the many challenges that come up. My lessons along the way is not easy to put on paper because there are so many. I’d say the biggest lesson is to not let others determine my future or value. I know my value and I have learned that not everyone will value me. Some will not honor their word, some will not talk positive of me, etc. but I have learned that doesn’t matter. What matters is what I think of myself. Am I valuing myself? Am I honoring myself, my music, my dreams? That lesson has been what keeps me going strong. Because at the end of the day, I just want to share my music, my culture. My passion pours out through my music and dance. You see that when I am on the stage. I love to see people smile, dancing and singing with me. As I like to say “situka tuzine” which means “Let’s get up and dance”!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many places to visit and Kalamazoo specifically has an awesome music community. I of course am going to be bias to the places that have live entertainment. And Kalamazoo has a lot of that! During the summer we would go to Bronson Park for live music on Sundays, Art Hop on the first Friday of the month, the farmers market on Saturdays, Beats on Bates to check out the local musicians playing on Wednesdays. Bell’s and Old Dog always has wonderful music and a great menu and beverage selection.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to Carolyn Koebel who has been part of my journey in West Michigan. She has connected me to so many people and organizations. She has learned to play my music, while adding her own expertise and unique twist. She has a big heart and it really shows in the music community. I grateful and blessed to know her and play music with her.

Website: http://samuelnalangira.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nalangira_music/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nalangira-music-104633362298012/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCrwC1hZWAPnlSmrQvwTvukA

Image Credits
Knarf Bizzaro and Marissa Hoard are the two photographers of some of the photos.