“We would have moved much faster than we are now but most people in the industry are afraid of taking risks,” Azawi told the Big Conversations podcast
Only Bebe Cool and I have what it takes to transform Uganda’s music - Azawi
Swangz Avenue songstress Azawi has spelt doom for the Ugandan music industry. The singer, born Priscilla Zawedde fears that the current top musicians in the country are not big dreamers or risk-takers. This, she thinks is the reason Uganda continues to fall behind other African countries despite having abundant talent.
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“ Also most of the people in the industry, their dreams are not big. "If 90% of us were big dreamers, it would reflect in the way music is promoted, the kind of videos we shoot and the music we are releasing. But most of us are playing it safe.”
The saviors?
The Quinamino singer says only about two people hold the key to transforming the country’s music scene, namely; herself and Bebe Cool.
To catch up to countries such as Nigeria and South Africa, Azawi says Uganda needs artists who are willing to put a lot at stake without thinking about quick profits.
“I, for example, am the kind of person who gets 100 million and not think of putting it on a house project. Rather I’ll put it all in the music,” she said.
“The only other guy who can do that is Bebe Cool. Unfortunately, he’s getting older and right now he’s just working on maintaining the brand because he sees that his time is running out.”
The onus, Azawi says, now falls on the younger generation of artists to set bigger goals for themselves and for the industry.
“You can find an artist who thinks if they fill up Freedom City, that is enough for them. But other artists outside Uganda are dreaming of filling O2. I know we need money, but if you have big and clear enough, you will see results.”
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