Written while listening to Achilla’s 2004 CD, Dho-Mach (Sacred Gift)…
The Ugandan and Canadian world music communities received sad news this past week, that lukeme player Achilla Orru passed away at the age of 53. apparently as the result of heart disease.
Some information about his passing is on this page, written by Davies Bagambiire. This page contains some biographical & music information.
Achilla’s wife, Rose, lives in Uganda, but had just recently been granted a visa to enter Canada. There are fundraising efforts beginning to help her and their three sons (aged between 2 and 6) to get to Canada.
Stay tuned for updates.
I believe Nadine McNulty will be including a tribute to Achilla tonight, Sunday Feb. 10 on “Karibuni”, CIUT 89.5 (6-8pm, also available on CIUT’s archives for a week beginning Monday).
Below, a video profile of Achilla when he received the 2009 Skills for Change 2009 New Pioneer Arts Award.
Below, Achilla at the 2009 Afrofest in Toronto.
And a clip from the same performance found on YouTube:
One response to “RIP King Achilla Orru Apaa-idomo”
I was sad to learn of his passing in the Metro newspaper this Friday. It was always a blessing to hear him playing his lukembe at Yonge and Bloor. Do you know where I can pick up one of his CDs? It’s a shame I never approached him for one while he was still with us.