Back in the day, when Ugandan music was transiting from the different forms of traditional music to kadongo kamu; artistes had a lot of dynamics in their favor. The audience automatically welcomed them because their music was giving them a whole new feel. This is not to say that musicians like Fred Sebata, Paul Kafeero, Livingstone Kasozi and Herman Basudde did not work hard. They just had a “smoother” pass.
Similar thing happened when music was transiting from Kadongo kamu to its current different forms. Musicians like Chameleon and Bebe Cool got a welcome from the people mainly because they had come as a relief from Kadongo Kamu, Congolese and South African dominance. It is of course a skewed perception to think that they did not work hard; it’s just that the prevailing conditions aided their rise.
The existence of a critical audience explains the widening rift between the top “dogs” and the emerging ones. It also explains the very slow rate at which younger artistes join the top brass. But above all, it explains the shift from more traditional forms of music to unique ones.
Who knew that guys like Navio, Maurice Kirya, Isaiah Katumwa or even Mun G would one day make sense in the industry? The fans are looking out for those artistes that go the extra mile to be creative and unique.
If you joined the industry looking to make a quick dime and cover the unemployment gap, sorry for you. You must work extra hard and break more sweat drops to establish yourself on the scene. With one of the biggest youthful populations in the world, Uganda has fans that look out for musicians that sing things relevant to them.
So fold your sleeves and equip yourself if you intend to be one of our next music stars. The journey ahead of you is more complicated than you think. This is not aimed at scaring you, but helps you appreciate the situation for what it is.
"Andrea The Don" - Keeps up to date with breaking news, stories from around the World, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.