robertoluoch oluoch
April 29, 2019
Joseph Mayanja who is popularly known to the public as Jose Chameleone is a Ugandan singer born on the 30th of April 1979 and raised in Uganda. Some people prefer to refer to him as Doctor Jose Chameleone due to a substantial notion that he is the Ugandan doctor of music. This could be due to the fact that he is one of the East African artists who has maintained relevance in the music industry for the longest time. His style of music is majorly Afrobeats and Reggae.
Chameleone has a wife, a well-known Ugandan socialite, named Daniella and five children. Music seems to be a thing in his family since his firstborn son called Abba and brothers Weasel and Pallaso are recording artists as well. Weasel was formerly a member of the duo Radio and Weasel (Goodlyfe Crew). Unfortunately, Radio passed away on the 1st of February 2018 after a ten-day comma due to a blood clot sustained during a bar clash in Entebbe, Uganda leaving Weasel a solo artist. Chameleon’s other brother, AK 47 who is late, was also an artist.
Music Career
Chameleone delivers his music mainly in Swahili and Luganda (Mukisa,2017). He started his journey as a musician as a DJ in one of Kampala’s night clubs in 1996. He made his debut appearance into the music scene when he released his hit single “ Bageya” featuring Kenya’s Redsan after being taken in by Ogopa DJs Record label in Kenya (Dhabi,2015). In 2000, he dropped his debut album dubbed Bageya. This was followed by several others which are; Mama Mia, Njoo Karibu, The Golden Voice, Mambo Bado, Kipepeo, Shida Za Dunia, Sivyo Ndivyo, Katupakase, Bayuda, Vumilia, Valu Valu, Badilisha, Tubonge, Wale Wale, Sili Mujjawo, Sweet Banana and Champion.
He has worked with several artists both within and outside Africa. They include Elani, Morgan Heritage Family, Konshens, Sizzla, Koffi Olamide, Professor Jay, Redsan, Patoranking, Davido, Beenie Man, Dr Alban, Pardon C, Goodlyfe Crew, Pallaso among others. He has also released numerous hits including; “Mama Mia”, “Kipepeo”, “Dorotia”, “Jamila”, “Valu Valu”, “Tubonge”, “Wale Wale”, “Mateeka”, “Miliano”, “Mukisenge”, “Kirabe”, “Champion”, “Badilisha”, “Superstar”, “Shida Za Dunia”, “Mambo Bado”, “Sweet Banana”, “Mshamba”, “Kilabe”, “Tatizo” and “Tonsina”.
Chameleone has a music label known as Leone Island where he has signed artists such as King Saha, Pallaso, Papa Cidy, Melody, Deejay Pius, Big Eye, Yung Mulo and many others. He was the first East African artist to hold a concert attended by more than 40,000 people. He successfully held another concert where he charged the people in attendance of one million Ugandan Shillings. He has also been to mega-tours where he has performed in countries including the United States, China, Sweden, United Kingdom, Belgium, Malaysia, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Zambia, and Malawi.
Awards and nominations.
During his music career, Chameleone has received several awards including; Pearl of Africa Music Awards, Tanzania Music Awards, Kisima Music Awards, HiPipo Music Awards, African Entertainment Awards, All Africa Music Awards, and Galaxy Zzina Music Awards. He has also been nominated for Kora Awards, MOBO Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, World Music Awards and MTV Africa Music Awards.
Endorsements
He signed endorsement deals with IDroid USA and Pizza Bond.
