Joseph Mayanja (born 1979) known for his stage name Jose Chameleon, Joe Chameleon, Jose Chameleone, or just Chameleone (sometimes Chameleon) is a ragga musician from Uganda. He mainly sings in Luganda, English and Swahili. Jose Chameleone has become a Pop Idol in Africa with several of His songs popular on Radio, in Bars and Clubs all over the continent From Cairo to Capetown, Mombasa to Freetown. Several of His songs have turned into popular phrases such as Basiima Ogenze, Shida Za Dunia, Nekolera Maali Among Others. He is generally Credited with the rejuvenation of Popular Local Music in Uganda at the turn of the Century.
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Chameleone started his career in the early 1990s as Disco mc at Maganjo Mizuri night club whilst studying at Progressive Secondary School along Rubaga Road in Mengo, Kampala Uganda. He later affiliated to Ogopa DJs record label from Kenya. One of his first songs was "Bageya", featuring Redsan, a Kenyan artist. He also collaborated with fellow Ugandan Bebe Cool, but later the two are known to have a tense rivalry.
Chameleone’s musical style is a combination of Ugandan folk music, Central African rumba, zouk and ragga. His first album was released in Kenya in 1999. He has since released several albums including “Bageya” in 2000, “Mama Mia” in 2001, “Njo Karibu” in 2002, “The Golden Voice” in 2003, “Mambo Bado”, in 2004 and “Kipepeo” in 2005.
He is a member of the Musician’s Community, a coalition of musicians who use their fame and fortune to help eradicate poverty and create awareness campaigns for HIV/AIDS.
He has toured number of overseas countries, the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden and Belgium in 2010 among others [1]
His younger brother Douglas Mayanja, using the stage name Weasel, is also a musician, part of the Goodlyfe Crew with Moses Radio.[2]
Selected hit singles
Won:
Nominated
2011 (Chameleone won the Ugandan Radio Dotcom Music Awards as the ARTISTE OF THE YEAR 2011
Jose Chameleone has been involved in several Controversies including brawls with rival Musicians such as Bobi Wine, Bebe Cool, His Brother Weasel of Goodlyfe Crew Crew, Vampino Elvis among Others. Several Musicians Including most of Goodlyfe Crew Have left His Label Leone Island Entertainment Under such circumstances. However these controversies have not stopped Him from churning out Hit after Hit.