Azawi wanted Winnie Nwagi to sing her breakthrough song ‘Quinamino’

The journey to the song started when music producer Emmanuel Kusasira Sempijja, also known as Kuseim, invited her to his studio.

The two had been introduced by Eddy Kenzo.

Now the owner of Africa Bureau of Music, Kuseim was originally at Big Talent, which is owned by Kenzo, real name Edrisah Musuuza.

While there, he produced some of his biggest songs, including ‘Mbilo Mbilo’, ‘Dagala’ and ‘Soraye’.

But they met while the 26-year-old songbird was still at Makerere University pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Azawi Pulse

When she was in her fourth year, Kuseim left Big Talent to start his own studio. He invited her to check out his brainchild. Kuseim had observed that Azawi was a good songwriter and she had also done backup singing for Kenzo.

"I found that ‘Quinamino’ beat playing... He had given it to a couple of artistes but I think he hadn’t got what he wanted,” she said during an interview with Crystal Newman (YouTube), adding that she hit the studio to record after a break of two years from music to focus on her studies.

"I recorded the song. He came in and he was like, 'I love that'."

After the recording, Kuseim asked her which singer she thought would rhyme best with the beat and she proposed Winnie Nwagi.

Since Nwagi was signed to Swangz Avenue, Azawi proposed to Kusein to contact Julius Kyazze, the co-founder of the record label.

Winnie Nwagi Pulse

"Kusseim gave the song to Julius; I think Julius got obsessed with the song," she said.

Instead of buying Azawi’s music as a songwriter, Swangz Avenue signed her to join the label. In less than two years, she has proved to be one of their biggest signings in recent history.