‘I wanted to choose to be better, not bitter’: How Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo went from sleeping in the street to historic Grammy nomination
On February 4, the Grammy awards announced the first-ever winner of the new Best African Music Performance, with South Africa’s Tyla taking home the title for her hit “Water.”
Yet African artists have been honored at the Grammys since fellow South African Miriam Makeba won for Best Folk Record in 1966. And even being nominated can be a life-changing experience.
No one knows that better than Eddy Kenzo. Last year, the 34-year-old singer and music executive became Uganda’s first-ever Grammy-nominated musician, for his
Born Edrisah Kenzo Musuuza, he spent 13 years of his early life sleeping on the streets, finding solace in music and football. It was sport that eventually served as his way out, but it would be music that became his lifeline.
Today, Kenzo promotes upcoming Ugandan artists through his Big Talent Entertainment record label, and advocates for fair royalties and digital copyright as the interim president of the Uganda National Musicians Federation.
CNN’s Larry Madowo spent time with Eddy Kenzo in Kampala, to talk about the
EK: I used to dance a lot on the street, and I love dancing. My music is for joy. What I bring out is based on my story. I suffered a lot when I was a kid. So, whenever I go to the studio, I think about being happy.
I want to make people happy because I know someone somewhere is sad about the different things they go through. When I come to the studio, I want to heal that person because I went through the same thing for a long time. That’s why I do happy music.
EK: I just wanted to choose to be better, not bitter. I went through a lot, but it does not mean that someone else should go through the same. So, it is my job to heal somebody going through that and I’m grateful it’s working.
When you go to the comment section of my music, people say, ‘I was going through depression, this song is changing my life.’ I’ve been living in the US for 20 years. When I look at this video, I remember my childhood. It’s so great.
LM: Your biggest award was the Grammy nomination. How did that feel?
goog_1454369453goog_1454369450EK: I couldn’t believe it. I can’t even imagine how I felt. If I start telling you where I come from, what I’ve gone through as a child who did not have anyone to take care of me. At that young age, I was the boss of my own life. Today to be here, to be in the Grammys! I couldn’t stop crying when I was seated at the Grammys, seeing all these guys perform, Beyonce, all these greats of all time. I cried the whole show.
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