Story by Byebyo
On Thursday, Uganda woke up to the passing of United States based Mpiirwe Nickolas alias Messe B Nikolas aka Molla Messe. Though details of how his candle burnt out are still scanty, Messe , is credited for having been an illustrious contributor to the music ,Dj, comedy industry in Uganda.
In the early nighties, Messe, who plied his cassatte (tape) disco business on kampala- jinja road, was a hawker , an MC cum Dj of the same. Cunning and witty complimented with a signature smile was his trade mark at the time.
Though he struggled expressing himself fully in the ‘Queens’ language, Messe , was always making deals using the same at all costs . No wonder , he was later part of the Da Homies group that also had Daniel Kazibwe aka Ragga Dee and sister D and very instrumental in the ‘Bamusakata’ song and tour at the time.
Hurdled out of Da Homies, Messe, embarked on a solo run. You would bump into him at Club Taxes,Jenina (Genina) owned by Charm and Karim Hirji , Jaja Asinasi in Nanasana , Ecstasy on Banda, white Nile trying out his talent.
Its during this time that Mese lured me into a studio owned by Diplock Segawa at the now DFCU jinja road branch to record my ‘tombawala’ album that was sold to now the late Afro Ssali of Afro Studios. At the time , Messe , being the senior, signed for the money , which developed wings.
However, his meeting of Amooti, Eddie Kigere , the late Paddy Bitama and forming the Amarula comedy outfit then partially housed at both Little Flowers aka Club Obligato and Jenina , opened the doors for the now vibrant and lucrative Comedy industry.
They introduced comedy to other urban clubs like Silk .
At about that time , he also joined Dembe FM under the auspices of Karim Hirji, where he horned his FM radio presentation skills. He would.later also channel into club ownership of i remember well Club 59 or something in Namasuba and another ku biri.
Managing these entertainment investments, attracted the realization of loan acquisition to stay in business. This was his undoing. Messe, like many others in the business,failed to meet his loan obligations fully and was forced to seek for financial independence in the United States where he has passed on.
Rest well Mugezi gezi Bontwe.
