Munyalo John is a Senior Three student at Hamadiya Moslem High School in Wandegeya, Kampala. Despite being on a wheel chair, John has gone against all odds and set out to become the next biggest Hip Hop dancer in Uganda.
His story stems from his dark past when he was abandoned by his parent upon the realization that John could not walk since he had problems with his leg right at birth.
Any parent after giving birth would wish to nurture their kid and see him or her run around, but for John, this was not possible. And that was the beginning of his struggle.
“I was brought here by my grandmother after my mum had abandoned me following an illness that left me nearly dead,” said John Munyalo while speaking to SoftPower News this week from Salvation Army Home of Joy where he has since found a new home.
Understandably, he can not recount the memories of his mum since he was a little boy at the time. He only heard of stories that it was his grandmother who brought him to Salvation Army Home of Joy while sick.
But regardless of his past, 19-year-old John is determined to achieve all his life dreams especially that of becoming the next greatest dancer under The Unseen Dreams, a dance crew that brings together people with different forms of disability.
“I watch a lot of great artistes on television, read about them and for me it’s just a matter of time until i prove my worth as the next hip hop dancer representing people with disability,” he notes with strong resolve.
His musical journey started last year with a couple of friends and he says he has performed at several events. The future for him is bright.
Hip hop dance requires a lot of physical energy and often times tideous choreography which given John’s situation could be a challenge. He is cautious not to strain himself and engage in scenes that could undermine his health.
“I am very careful when practicing my dance moves. I take precaution not to get hurt or even risk breaking specifically my hand that I rely on for all my life activities,” he says.
As one would imagine, John encounters several hindrances while pursuing his musical dreams, but what could perhaps be the most prominent of all is stigmatization and discrimination. Many people judge him by his physical appearance and underlook his potential like several other people that are physically incapacitated.
“People shun me and question what good can possibly come from a lame man. But I keep on telling them it’s a matter of time,” the teenager told this website.
The high spirited boy pays tribute to her grandmother who rescued him at a time he was looking death in the face, as well as Salvation Army which gave him anothet chance at life.
He however has no kind words for people who underestimate other people’s potential using their looks as the yardstick. He stresses that disabled or not, all children are equal and deserve to be treated as humans.
“Don’t dump your children in the house, never lock or chain them up because you don’t know what the future holds for them”.
Beside his dancer career, he is hopeful that after school, he can secure a job as a computer technician since it involves limited movement.
The story of John is akin to that of Makambo Julius, popularly known as ‘Jamix’, another member of the Unseen Dreams dance crew.
“My dream is to become an accountant or an I.T expert especially now that technology is taking over worldwide” Julius, 20, said.
Asked about his interest in the arts, particularly dance, he notes that “I loved music since I was young, and it was not until I met Desire, a dance trainer who brought my dream as a dancer to life”.
“With members of the Unseen Dreams, I have met people who dont merely look at me as disabled but differently able. I was inspired and ready for the challenge. Mine is beyond dancing, I also want to sing and share stage with those big artistes”.
Whereas Julius would like to be associated with all big entertainment events that dominate Kampala’s social scene, transport for him remains a big set back.
He opened up on the difficulty he faces in reaching some of the venues even when the group is invited for showcases. But while they love to Julius to make a grand entry on the music stage, the reality of stigma sometimes beats down their spirit.
He describes the feeling he had prior to his maiden appearance on the stage as having been nervous. But to his surprise, the reception from the audience was too warm and this gave him relief.
When they started performing, he narrates, everybody in the crowd was cheering them up. “I was empowered and felt worthy. Life has never been the same again,” Julius says.
“I stopped fearing people from that time and I can vividly tell the other people with disability to throw away fear, wake up and fight for their space by utilizing the power of the creative space”.
The idea to form the group
Tereka Kenneth Desire, the founder of Yutta Knovicts is a professional dancer and dance trainer who is behind these youth explained the reason for mobilizing them.
“We have undertaken different dance production sessions and we look at bring different sects of people on board. It is beyond having fun but through these contemporary or theatrical dances or alternative dance, we can help heal souls,” Kenneth says.
He and the team from Unseen Dreams have visited a couple of schools for people with disability and inspired them through entertaining and often fun activity as a way of changing attitude.
According to Kenneth, the Unseen Dreams dance group is just a piece in the bigger dream. They expect to expand the programs to differently able people across the country if funding allows.
He is optimistic that through dance showcase, they will be able to take away the feeling of self pity and the idea of people feeling sorry for people with disability.
Kenneth says the concept hasn’t been easy to get people adjust to given the existing perception, but is happy they have started replicating it.
He acknowledges the challenge of funding, transport and limited inclusive spaces as some of the reasons to addressing the issue of disability in Uganda.
However, they are not yet about to give up but rather reinforce their efforts further to make sure people with disability are considered in all societal settings.
Nambaziira Prischilla, Co-founder of Slum Child Uganda observes that every child is a gift from God. it’s up to the parents to help their children. She says several children have been abandoned in slums and it’s the time to help them regain their lives.
Persons with Physical Disabilities make up 60% of the PWDs in Uganda according to the Uganda National Action on Physical Disability (UNAPD) an indigenous, non-partisan, non-political, non-religious, gender-inclusive and democratic organization in Uganda (East Africa) that brings together Persons with Physical Disabilities (PWPD).