Music Review: Pililili Yoo Leng – Romeo Odong

Pililili Yoo Leng is hounding the air waves and online platforms with good reason - it's an Acholi party anthem with a curiously inspirational message behind it.

Without a doubt it was played at the wedding reception of justice minister Norbert Mao and wife Beatrice Kayanja in Coopil village, Unyama sub -county in Gulu district. The newlyweds and guests came to break a leg, Acholi style.

Pililili Yoo Leng is not new – no sir, it was dropped about four years ago. But a couple of things make it urgently relevant. First, lets visit its music video, which has garnered it an impressive three million views on YouTube.

Director Derrick Woko puts together a richly vibrant spectacle that is a celebration of Acholi culture, dance and expression. It is not often that Acholi culture is
celebrated in pop culture in Uganda, and this video is a beautifully expressive clarion call in that regard.

The second aspect that contributes to the song’s longevity is the inspirational nature of the song writing.

Pililili Yoo Leng is a gospel song, with a powerful message about feeling secure while sheltered by God.

Romeo Odong can carry a tune, and he evokes the ethos of this message with power, joy and infectious enthusiasm.

The song seamlessly combines traditional and modern approaches to music – it opens with a poignant Acholi flute, from which the percussive groove takes over, tapping into a rhythm that the Acholi have made famous, picked from the Larakaraka dance. It might sound like something of a contradiction – that particular dance is a courtship dance, but it is also performed at celebratory events like weddings, and this this is an uplifting song, it doesn’t hurt to use it.

I can’t get over how enthusiastic this song sounds - that, along with the seamless merging of styles is what give it is magic.

Listeners with Acholi roots will have their patriotic inclinations fired up by the song
and the lyrics, while other listeners will be immediately drawn to one of the most iconic grooves to emerge from the traditional music sector, alongside the Bakisimba groove from the Buganda.

I am glad this bit of music dropped on my desk – it was refreshing to listen to.