George the Poet’s latest podcast employs art to relive the economic and psychological hardships occasioned by the brutal Covid pandemic on Kampala dwellers.
The story which forms Episode 38 of George’s popular podcast – Have You Heard George’s Podcast? – premiered Friday at a listening session hosted at Motiv in Kampala.
In hosting a live audience in his home country, it is possible George the acclaimed Ugandan-born British spoken word poet, sought to bring attention to how much he is still plugged in his motherland. On top of platforming Ugandan artistes.
When he announced the event, which was free, tickets quickly ran out before he made a provision for extra tickets which equally got depleted in no time.
The podcast titled Once Upon a Time in Kampala centers on the story of 29-year-old Hassan, a kind-hearted Uber driver who forms an unlikely bond with a sex worker during the crippling lockdown of 2021.
On one of his night runs together with a new passenger (Stella), they run into a gang of robbers who threaten violence.
But the two survive narrowly – thanks to Hassan’s cunningness and plastic brevity. It is this heroic act that enders him to Stella, his new passenger who expresses gratitude. This precarious and tense moment draws Stella to Hassan and sparks a friendship.
The episode shines the light on the far-reaching consequences that government’s lockdown measures – especially restrictions of movement – had on livelihoods, for example those that depended on Kampala’s nightlife economy.
Hassan must contend with several challenges – rent arrears, risky nights, low business, worrying about his father who is battling Covid and is on oxygen, and medical bills.
Amidst all this, there’s a shimmer of happiness. He’s began to get emotionally attached to Stella, who unknown to Hassan, is a sex worker. Like many people, she is must make tough decision in order to survive the economic hardships occasioned by the pandemic. Several times, she is emotionally drained and the only sign there is for Hassan are the regular tears.
“Stella was the woman of the night. Sometimes she would return from her job looking as though she had been putting up a fight. And just sit in the back seat and cry. Hassan wishes he could intervene in Stella’s life but he had a taxi to drive,” George narrates on the episode.
“It didn’t really matter how they felt about their work though. They both had to survive.”
Set in Kampala during lockdown, the story explores different themes – crime, trauma, desperation, love and survival.
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In summing up the story, George the Poet, highlights the bigger picture – the circumstances that surround “life in the trenches” and how Africa’s working class has borne the brunt of this financial crisis.
“What do you think happens to the Hassans and Stellas? You think they fall in love and ride off into the sunset? You think the struggle makes them more entrepreneurial even though their physiological needs are unmet? This aint no fairytale. Fighting poverty means dealing with the facts of life,” the poet ponders.
Through this story, George also sheds light on Uganda’s unemployment crisis told through Hassan’s predicament. A law graduate who ends up driving a cab to earn a living
A survey by Uganda Bureau of Statistics found out that 41 percent of youth, which represents 9.3 million people aged between 18 and 30 are not engaged in any productive activity. Unemployment increased from 9 percent in 2020 to 12 percent in 2021. Uganda’s rapid population growth is in discord with the rate of job creation.
Being the award-winning storyteller he is, George has mastered the art of employing different art techniques to hammer the message home.
On Once Upon a Time in Kampala, he leverages music to break tension and to also achieve harmonious transitions. The episode features songs like Magazine (Zex Bilangilangi), Bambi (Fresh Kid), Byenyenya (Fik Fameica) and Temporary Feels (Kali Claire feat. Jvck James).
Using a slower-than-usual pace compared to his other episodes on Have You Heard George’s Podcast, he ensures the listener’s attention is fully captured. Ugandan actors Tracy Kababiito (who voiced Stella), Andrew (Hassan) and Tania Shakirah Kankindi (Hassan’s mom) delivered the storytelling effects required to express the emotions.
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The story also uses compelling dialogue. Like the telephone conversations between Hassan and his European-based friend Rashid (voiced by George the Poet). The dialogues bring out their similarities and differences in equal measure. It is also through these conversations that the listener appreciates Hassan’s personality.
Dr. Prosper Ahimbisibwe who attended the event at Motiv told PLUGGED “it was powerful to listen to one of the many experiences of the Covid19 pandemic”.
“Once upon a time in Kampala brought out a glimpse of the hardships and vulnerability that happened when we were locked down during the pandemic. Shout out to George the poet doing a great reflection of the lived Ugandan experience that we never have the time or privilege of doing so,” said Ahimbisibwe, a medical doctor by profession and a healthcare entrepreneur.
He recounts the night being full of other great Ugandan poets who brought to life and mind Uganda’s frustrations as a nation in moving forward, “the intensity of our passions like love, our drive to bring more dignity for the African woman among many things”.
Written by George the Poet, produced by George and Paul Carter ‘Benbrick’ (a Peabody Award winning, multi-platinum selling English songwriter, producer and composer), the story is recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
