Uganda’s music scene is thriving, and it boasts a healthy number of successful female artists. Spice Diana has a string of hits to her name and is working on her first album. She has also been nominated for this year’s MAMAs – the MTV Africa Music Awards.
“The nomination actually gave me a lot of challenge to work harder because it showed me that my music is appreciated on the international platforms and on the African market. I was like: ‘Hey, Spicey. you’re already doing great so you just have to push harder’.”
Spice Diana told This Is Africa that the amazing dance group the Triplets Ghetto Kids was responsible for her success.
She was a fan of theirs and started writing lyrics for them, but they spotted her potential:Quote Message: I was like: ‘No! I can’t sing’, they were like: ‘You can sing!’ I didn’t believe in myself but those kids gave me so much energy, and I didn’t want to disappoint those kids.”
I was like: ‘No! I can’t sing’, they were like: ‘You can sing!’ I didn’t believe in myself but those kids gave me so much energy, and I didn’t want to disappoint those kids.”
It’s been a tough year for musicians in Uganda. Unlike several other African countries, there have been restrictions on performing. When two Nigerian artists, Omar Ley and Tems held a concert there, flouting Covid rules, many Ugandan artists were up in arms.
“We were not happy,” Spice Diana says, “but later we realised that it was a Ugandan promoter that organised the event, so we actually stood with the Nigerian artists because it wasn’t the right thing for the police to arrest them when it wasn’t their fault.”
Ugandan musicians have also been affected by the violence and unrest in the run-up to this week’s presidential election, says Spice Diana:Quote Message: So many innocent people have lost their lives, people have lost businesses, and every time whatever happens our fans expect us to say something.
So many innocent people have lost their lives, people have lost businesses, and every time whatever happens our fans expect us to say something.Quote Message: Sometimes you don’t know much about politics – and if you don’t say something people tend to neglect you and your music – so I just pray that we have our beautiful Uganda back after all this.”
Sometimes you don’t know much about politics – and if you don’t say something people tend to neglect you and your music – so I just pray that we have our beautiful Uganda back after all this.”
Source: BBC
