Q&A with musician Alfred 'Uganda' Roberts

Alfred “Uganda” Roberts describes himself as someone with music in his genes. He has had a love for drums specifically from a very young age and will perform as a part of the Southern Journey Series today. Roberts is a New Orleans native who plays the conga drums.

He spoke with staff writer Paige Hopkins about how he got his start in music and about his career.

Daily Tar Heel: When did you start performing?

Alfred “Uganda” Roberts: I was about 19. My first performance that I can remember where I made a couple of dollars, I played for a Latin dancer who was famous in New Orleans in the French Quarter. She had a Caribbean review where she would come out and dance to records like the “cha, cha, cha,” and I would be behind her playing the mambo; they would call me Jamaica Joe.

DTH: What made you choose the drums over other instruments?

AR: In my neighborhood the Treme area, on the outside of the French Quarter, was very musical. The people in the area worked in the French Quarter in the clubs performing as musicians. I also heard the Cubans beating on the conga drums. I liked the way they sounded. At that time I was about 6 or 7 years old. Once I found out what they were playing I decided to play those kind of drums.

DTH: Which selections will you be playing at the concert tomorrow?

AR: I have quite a list but a few of the favorites are “Tipitina,” “Rum and Coke” and “Go to the Mardis Gras.” Many of the selections are renditions of songs by Professor Longhair, a musician I used to play with.

DTH: Tell me about your time playing with Professor Longhair and Dr. John.

AR: The three of us became friends and started playing together. I played on the CDs “Goin’ Back to New Orleans” and “Dis Dat and D’Udda.” Professor Longhair was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

DTH: Where did the nickname “Uganda” come from?

AR: It came from a group named after the African country Uganda. Myself and some of my drummer friends saw them perform at a show and enjoyed it. There was a drummer who played three conga drums, and I kind of picked up the way he played. In New Orleans, we all have nicknames and when everyone would hear me play they would say, “Oh there’s Uganda on the conga,” and it just took off from there.

DTH: As a featured artist in the Southern Journey Series, can you tell me what sets apart music made in New Orleans?

AR: It has a Caribbean flare to it. During the time of slavery, the slaves traveled on the ships through the Caribbean, through countries like Haiti, Puerto Rico and Cuba, and some of them would get off the ships and bring that culture with them. That culture is within New Orleans’ culture — the food, the music and the people.

DTH: What’s it like being a musician in New Orleans?

AR: It’s like a living experience. We kind of take it for granted. Some people see it as unusual or different from music in other parts of America, but we live it. We play the music to enjoy ourselves. It’s a lot of improvisation when we play music. We may play a song that we hear someone else play but we play it in a way that has more flare to it.

DTH: Why do you perform?

AR: Probably my genes. My father played music and my mother was quite a dancer, I think a lot of that rhythm was in my genes. I grew up beating pots and pans until I found out what drums were all about.

It’s also about entertaining yourself. Eventually you’ll make some money doing it, but first you have to entertain yourself.

arts@dailytarheel.com