Charles Lwanga, Faculty Associate in the African Studies Center and assistant professor of music at the University of Michigan, has received a major scholarly honor from the African Studies Association. His article, “Watch Your Tone!: Music and Meaning in Bobi Wine’s ‘Tugambire ku Jennifer’ and the Kampala Street Vendors,” has been selected as the 2025 Best Published Article in the African Studies Review. The award recognizes outstanding scholarship that advances understanding of Africa’s cultures, histories, and societies.
In the article, Lwanga explores how music functions not only as artistic expression but also as a powerful form of communication and social action. Focusing on Ugandan musician and political figure Bobi Wine’s song “Tugambire ku Jennifer”, Lwanga examines how sound, tone, and musical performance shape meaning beyond written lyrics alone. He introduces the concept of “Afrosonicity” to describe how music, speech, and everyday sound interact to create shared understanding within communities.
The song emerged in response to the 2011 eviction of street vendors by Kampala city authorities, an event that deeply affected the livelihoods of thousands of people. Lwanga shows how the song became a voice for these vendors, circulating through streets and public spaces and helping to express collective frustration, resilience, and political critique. As listeners engaged with the song, its meaning expanded, influencing public conversations and responses to state power.
By centering African ways of listening and meaning-making, Lwanga’s award-winning work highlights the importance of music as a site of social connection and political expression. The African Studies Association’s recognition underscores the article’s broad relevance, not only to scholars, but also to anyone interested in how art and sound shape everyday life and collective action across Africa.
Read more on the SMTD website here.
