Sam Gombya’s ‘S’ family
Sam and Sophie Gombya are both at the top of Ugandan music charts. The Gombya’s sing about love, marriage and parenting, using contemporary, reggae and country styles. Singing together is a celebration of their love and friendship that spans several years. When Sam Gombya first met his wife Sophie in primary school, she was just another pupil. And to Sophie, there was nothing unusual about the boy who years later would become the love of her life. They met later while in secondary school and their love for each other grew gradually.
Pregnant spoke to Sam and Sophie, also popularly known as the ‘S’ family. Anne Kigathi narrates.
Would you dare be on stage, pregnant, performing to an audience on your expected due date? That is the spirit of a fighter! And Sophie Gombya is a go-getter who has done exactly that—twice!. Sophie was on stage performing while pregnant with her first baby in 1996 and again in 2006, with her third baby. Her husband Sam recollects, ‘Sophie came home from a stage performance, immediately developed labour pains and went straight to hospital.’ Sophie explains her actions: ‘I wanted to show people that it’s possible for a woman to be active at such times. She does not have to just sit at home.’
A pregnant mum is seen by many as a vulnerable and weak person. Despite her gallant stage shows while pregnant, Sophie agrees that pregnant women are delicate, and warns, ‘A simple matter like sharing a public toilet may cause an infection to a pregnant mum.’ She points out that every pregnancy, every delivery and every child are all different. Sam says that when Sophie is pregnant, he spends sleepless nights worrying as she also becomes another ‘baby’ in their house. Her latest pregnancy disturbed her from beginning to end. She even got false labour and at one time feared she had miscarried.
Now that they have three children, The ‘S’ Family has settled down to a normal life whose key goal is to nurture their kids’ talents. Sam says, ‘We have adapted the letter ‘S’ to guide us in naming our kids,’ adding that their children are ‘flowers’ at home. Their first born, Silas, was born in 1998 and the second born Solomon in 2003. Their last born is Sonia born in February 2006. Sam, Sophie and their kids’ first names start with an ‘S’.
The Gombyas do not believe their children must be musicians like them. They do not involve them in their music business because they would like the kids to grow up with independent minds and discover their own talents, whatever they may be. ‘We want our kids to go to school and discover their talents. We will help them develop those talents.’
Sam and Sophie face the same challenges, bringing up the kids, as any parent in Kampala comes to terms with. One real challenge is leaving the kids at home with househelps while the couple is working, particularly when overseas travel is involved. The Gombya’s have performed in Denmark, Germany, Italy, England and hope in future to present themselves to Kenyans. ‘Kenya is our neighbour and we would like to perform there too.’
It is almost impossible to find househelps who can take care of one’s kids with as much love and attention as a parent would wish.At other times househelp can not be found.
The Gombya’s occasionally have to take the kids upcountry.
Currently Sophie’s sister, Farida, is living with them, bringing much relief to the couple because sometimes she is left with the kids and the househelp when Sam and Sophie are travelling or have shows.
Luckily, both Sam and Sophie’s jobs are in the afternoons, which allows them both to spend quality time with the kids. Sam presents the radio programme, ‘Mukulikeyo’ a Luganda word meaning ‘welcome back’. Mukulikeyo welcomes people back home from work and aims at cooling them down and giving them a laugh after a hard day’s work.
Besides radio, Sam is a councillor for people with disability, serving Kampala Central. Sam then joins his wife to compose, sing and produce songs. They have completed their fourth audio album and are planning to produce videos for the songs.
Any plans for baby number four? Sam laments that nowadays babies are very expensive to maintain and to educate. ‘We will think of baby four after five or maybe seven years.’
END: BL06/58-59