MoRoots Releases Brand New Single ‘Tulo’ With Hauntingly Beautiful Visuals

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Ugandan music star MoRoots (born Maureen Rutabingwa) has always forged her own path with a trailblazing sound she aptly refers to as “Future-Afro-Soul”; an alternative genre that is both original and enchanting. Whether through songs like “Kings & Queens,” “Muluyimba,” or “My Woman Cries,” the singer, songwriter, composer, saxophonist, and classical pianist, who is based dually in Kampala and London, has consistently used her poetic songwriting to convey messages of strength and inspiration. Today, she returns with the release of her dreamy, brand-new single, “Tulo,” and to say that we are obsessed would be an understatement.

Featured on her new EP, ROOTED, and recorded in Dolby Atmos, “Tulo” takes cues from “Tulo Tulo Kwata ‘Omwana,” a famous Luganda lullaby. Through this track, MoRoots explores the narrative of motherhood and the trials, trauma, and triumphs that accompany it. “It is a mother singing to her child,” she shares. “The song celebrates the strength of motherhood and the prayer a mother would have for her children: to be fierce, to live long, and to be strong.”

The music video, produced by Zozu Inc and directed by Baboki Zack with creative direction by Kamanzi Rwego, is an immersive experience designed to tell the story in her own unique way. The clip sees MoRoots connecting with a brilliant creative team; including stylist Nunu Umuringa, designer Kai’s Divo Collection, and acclaimed makeup artist Shillart, to create a visual language that is equally complex and powerful.

In one standout scene, she wears a voluminous, floor-length tiered ruffle cape in a vibrant crimson, paired with a patterned headwrap; the ruffles create an air of defensiveness, mirroring the protection a mother provides for her child. The second look offers a softer, more grounded perspective, featuring massive layers of chocolate-brown tulle and a striking crown of deep red roses covering her eyes.

For someone who describes herself as a “part-time struggling traditional dancer,” what stands out even more in the clip is the short dance routine at the end with famed dancer Walter Ruva, which adds a playful flair to the visual narrative.

With the release of ROOTED, MoRoots is clearly on a mission to take her unique Ugandan soundscape global. Having graced stages across the world, she continues to serve as an inspiration to the next generation of African creatives. If “Tulo” is any indication, the world is ready for the addictive mash-up of funk, neo-soul, and electronic experimentation that only MoRoots can provide.

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