By Bash Mutumba

 

Last year, a number of musicians started up a group they christened Save UG Music. Top artists including Radio and Weasel, Eddy Kenzo, Cindy Sanyu, Jose Chameleon to mention but a few, mobilised younger talents to aim guns at UPRS, who they branded extortionists; and to media houses, seeking that 70% of Ugandan Music should be played over that from foreign countries. A tougher stand they had, was that DJs shouldn’t be paid to play music, that they should play music because it is good. DJs however, and some musicians opposed to the group like Bebe Cool were adamant that this was a selfish stand.

 

In an interview with Jonathan Nalebo, a Galaxy FM presenter, Bebe said,

“Any person that says DJs shouldn’t be paid is the most selfish and heartless person that has ever lived on planet earth. Don’t DJs have families? Don’t they have needs? Why do you want them to work for free?” Asked the Rasta in a tone of utter dismay. He went on to say that all the artists part of the clique were failed musicians who wanted a scapegoat for their poor careers.

 

Cindy Sanyu, one of the artists part of the group, had no kind words for Bebe Cool,

“I can’t believe Bebe Cool can be this shallow. This is not for the good of those part of this(Save UG Music) only. It is for every artist in Uganda including him. The industry is dying because DJs are playing but music which was paid for, at the expense of good music my artists with a weak financial muscle.” Snapped “The King” herself.

 

The DJs on the other hand were on Bebe Cool’s side for supporting them. Celebrated deck master, DJ Aludah, publicly cried to Bebe for help on Twitter.

 

As expected, the Gagamel boss came to his rescue, picking rounds of applause from fans.

 

Weeks passed and there was no sign of a delivery, but as they say, a promise is a debt…

 

Sir Aludah got the gift he wanted and that gets me thinking, can’t I start something called #SaveUGWriters, because well… I am still using a Katoochi for a phone.