UGANDA: Jah Alive's Frank Mugerwa As Director Of The day.

Many more are now earning a living as professional videographers. Some of the notable names include Frank Mugerwa (the face behind Jahlive music videos)

He cut his teeth in the trade in December 2009 when he shot Bwekiili by Rabadaba, a new-age sensation in Kampala.  The video went viral and opened doors for him. "

It wasn’t my first video but it was the first one to be widely accepted,”

Bwekili came at a time when musicians considered music videos a parade of X-rated clips of half-dressed girls luridly shaking their bosoms and bottoms

 “That is when I registered Jah Live Limited under which I have done over 200 videos since,” he recalls. A lot has changed in the way videos are shot. The quality of the videos has greatly improved, new kids with new concepts have come up. On the flip side though, there is very little story-telling in the music videos today. I guess it is also the artistry in the music released and what the musicians dictate to the video directors. It will change though in future. JahLive, which means God lives."

Today, Jah Live has unearthed music producers and given a chance to upcoming artistes to work as producers and also record music. One such beneficiary is producer-cum-singer Geosteady of the sensational Viola rendition.

He has shot two videos of Katatumba’s – So Close and Supernatural Girl – which have both been played on international music channels such as Trace, MTV and Channel O.

He loves his work and always pushes the envelope. At times, it means conquering his worst fears to shoot the video, as was the case during the GoodLyfe crew’s Obudde video. When he looked at the location, he knew that the best shot would be an aerial one, showing the water and the highland the boys and the dancers were on.

“I’m afraid of heights and there is this aerial shot I took while standing on a crane on a cliff and any mistake would have led to an accident, but thank God I was able to take it and it came out well,” 

Mugerwa appreciates and nurtures nascent music talent. In 2012, with a group of musicians and producers, he embarked on a project, Talent 12, to support talented youth.

 He also disagrees with the belief that a good video is supposed to be expensive. Mugerwa believes creativity is what makes a video stand out.

“My first concern is the concept, what the song is all about and how he video is going to be. I usually spend two days thinking of that, then other issues follow,” 

 “I want to be recognized as the best video director in Uganda and I would be satisfied if one day, Ugandan video directors are credited for the effort they put in towards the development of the music industry,”