Ykee Benda (L) was left in shock when Dre Cali (R) who was signed under his Mpaka Records management relocated to Canada without notice. PHOTO/COURTESY
Musicians suddenly parting ways with managers with whom they have toiled through the hardest of times, at the point when they finally find success, is one of the easily ignored but very constant occurrences in Uganda’s music industry. One wonders why such incidents keep happening, and if there are no lessons learnt on both sides over the years.
When rumours started circulating early this year that Jeff Kiwanuka, aka Jeff Kiwa had fired Rahmah Pinky from Team No Sleep (TNS) management, fans were served with an anomaly. It is usually the musician that ‘fires’ the manager – at least basing on past scenarios. This is the most recent high-profile artiste-manager break-up, and according to the rumours, Jeff Kiwa had become fed up of Pinky’s choice of company and the habits she picked up from them. She also allegedly ‘brought over men’ to her apartment, which was against management rules. After a few warnings, he realised the teenager was not as governable as Sheebah Karungi was. Meanwhile, Sheebah had had many years of success, but Pinky only had just a few songs to her name, including Walwaawo and Picha, featuring Grenade.
Most memorable splits
The most memorable manager-artiste conflicts and split-ups in Uganda also involved Jeff Kiwa, from as early as the Leone Island days with Jose Chameleone. Kiwa started Goodlyfe Crew together with Radio and Weasel after the duo and him felt unfairly treated by Leone Island founder and singer Chameleone. Goodlyfe Crew went on to become a force to reckon with; rising to the level of competing with their former mentor. With Goodlyfe, they took other artistes under their wing, including Gift of Kaddo and Diamond Oscar; who also had huge musical success in the highflying days of the crew. In 2013, the dynamic duo ‘fired’ Jeff Kiwa, accusing him of misusing company funds and fraudulently taking ownership of their property.
FULL STORY>>> Inside music management and the rampant break-ups
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