Ugandan music is in a vegetative state, artistes are afraid to take risks, says Azawi
Prolific Ugandan singer and songwriter Priscilla Zawedde, popularly known by her stage name, Azawi, says the music scene in her home country is stuck because her peers “are too scared to press play.”
As a result, the music industry is stagnating because her peers are afraid to take risks.
The melodious chanteuse, who is based in Kenya, claims the music industry in Uganda has stalled due to what she believes is a lack of ambition by the stakeholders.
She attributes this to fear on the part of artists who do not want to take huge risks when it comes to investing in their music careers.
“If 90 per cent of us were big dreamers, it would be reflected in the way music is promoted, the kind of videos we make and the music we release. But most of us play it safe,” she told the Big Conversations podcast.
Azawi, who credits willingness to take risks for the growth of music in Nigeria and South Africa, insists that’s what should happen if the music industry is to level up.
“For example, I am the kind of person who gets Ush100m and I don’t think of putting it into a house project, I will put it all into music,” she adds.
Two years ago, Azawi was selected to represent Kenya in the Global YouTube Black Voices Music Class 2022.
Azawi was one of 54 promising songwriters and producers selected for the development programme, which aims to support and mentor black artists, songwriters and producers worldwide.