If you had to pick one musician to represent Uganda at any prestigious international music award, who would it be?
Yeah, yeah, we don’t know who you are thinking!! And we may not agree with every artist on your wish list, but one thing is for certain: Many of you will shout out names like Kenzo, Radio & Weasel, Chameleone, Bebe Cool, Bobi Wine plus other.
Last week, there was a huge debate that Eddy Kenzo is Uganda’s number One musician which left our team of experts on music painstakingly research the argument and bringing it back to the public, to who is Uganda’s number one. You're going to respect the hell out of this article.
When Singer Eddy Kenzo emerged winner at the Black Entertainment Awards (BET), Many Ugandans started to sing songs of praise and accompanied with a lot of pep talk “Kenzo is Biggest size, Music Doctor, Ghetto president” all those and others were showered on him. Well, was this pep talk out of excitement or it was based on music ever made, social media popularity and chart-topping hits on local and international media?
Kenzo's recent success is being treated with admiration, gone are the days when people ridiculed his English accent. Kenzo has defied all odds to become one of the most respected artistes of this generation.....Their so many parents who want their children to be like Kenzo others are naming them after him.
2009 was his breakthrough year with the mighty Yanimba track featuring Bobi Wine’s brother Mickie Wine, he has since released songs back to back, talk of Sitamina that headlined Museveni’s elections campaign in 2011, Zivuga, Super power, Nice and Lovely then the Viral Sitya loss, among others.
Every success and failure that he has met over the years has been a stepping stone, Kenzo is a hardworking music soldier on a mission, a mission that Majority have fallen in love with, the once popular negative talk has been pushed far behind, what looks like the new trend and talk of malwa is declaring Kenzo Uganda's / East Africa's number one. Critics will say Kenzo’s story is a true meaning of ‘Succeed by luck’ and that’s what many believe and still have doubts that he is not number one.
Minutes before Eddy Kenzo was announced a winner, a big number of Ugandans fronted Leone Island boss Jose Chameleone as East Africa's untouchable and Africa's number six ( not our rankings , Google that ) and it's been like that for years. Today its different Kenzo seems to be a big threat to Chameleone's throne, debates have emerged on social media and the fans are divided, some in Chameleone's Corner, and others in Kenzo's Corner.
Chameleone's Music prowess cannot be questioned, he has won Awards such as BEFTA, MTV EUROPE AWARDS, KORA AWARDS, PAM AWARDS, KILIMANJARO AWARDS , to mention a few. Chameleone is lauded for his consistency in the music game; he has been in singing for as long as we can remember. A number of his songs have yielded catchphrases like Nekolera Mali, Basiima Ogenze, Valu-Valu, and Badilisha among others. His achievements cannot be written in a single post.
Bebe Cool who has warned people from cheap comparisons cannot keep his talk for long because once he opens his mouth again about the same matter, he will be told to shut up saying he should first build a house.
“I feel disrespected when people start these who is who comparisons, It’s only the work we do that says who we are not those who want to put us down. Ugandans, let’s appreciate people who work hard to be where they are”. He made these statements when many put Chameleone and King Saha on the same weighing scale.
In Kenzo's blue corner, his fans think he is the best because he won the Black Entertainment Award which Chameleone has never come close to but if Awards are determined by who is the King in the music game then according to our findings, Chameleone still rules. But why?
Chameleone is nominated in the MAMA Evolution Awards, this category honours established artists who have made a worthy mark on global and African music culture, taken African music to new territories around the world, pushed the boundaries of creativity, and shaped the soundscape of contemporary Africa. Looking back at Kenzo's award , It is a new award that recognizes the best international artist, We know of other African giants such as Dbanj, Davido, Wiz kid, Fally Ipupa and 2face who were not nominated in this category......Does it mean Kenzo is better than the above mentioned ?
Kenzo's contribution to the industry and success cannot be undermined but one would find it unfair to weigh him on the same scale with Jose Chameleone.
Before I call this off, let’s look at the categories where both were Nominated , Chameleone is potted in a league of giants in the Evolution category, Nominees are, 2Face (Nigeria), Anselmo Ralph (Angola), Asa (Nigeria), Black Coffee (South Africa),.D’Banj (Nigeria), Fally Ipupa (DRC), HHP.(South Africa), P-Square (Nigeria) and Samini (Ghana).
Kenzo was chosen best international viewer’s choice over South Africa's Casper, Ghana's Mzvee , George the poet and Mic Lorry from UK.
What do YOU think reader? Do you think Eddy Kenzo is Uganda’s number one artist? Sound off below!
