Eddy Kenzo is not at ease with people claiming that he is not the first UG artist to get a nomination nod in the prestigious Grammy Awards. He is out here refusing to back down as records and evidence show, he is actually the fourth artist to reach the milestone.
On Tuesday, Kenzo held a presser after confirming that indeed he is among the nominees in the 2023 Grammy Awards under the category of ‘Best Global Music Performance’, longside ‘Udhero Na’, by Arooj Aftab and Anoushka Shankar, ‘Last Last’, by Burna Boy, ‘Neva Bow Down’, by Rocky Dawuni featuring Blvk H3ro and ‘Bayethe’, Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode.
While speaking to the press, the 38-year-old most decorated artist in the country today, used that chance to stress that all those claiming that he is not the first Ugandan to be nominated in the Grammys are telling lies.
Kenzo maintained that he is the first ever Ugandan to be nominated in the Grammy Awards adding that no one can take it away from him.
He challenged all those claiming that there are other Ugandans that have ever been nominated in the Grammys before to bring out the evidence and prove him wrong.
“To all my country people, I’m very happy, it’s the very first Grammy nomination in Uganda, those saying that Ugandans have been nominated before, they are telling lies,” he said.
However, soon after his statement, one of his colleagues in the industry, Joel Sebunjo, came out with a list of artists he says have been nominated in Uganda before Kenzo.
According to Sebunjo, a renowned Ugandan Folk and World Musician, Abayudaya, Somi, and Michael Kiwanuka were all nominees at one point.
Yes, indeed, Joel Sebunjo is right. The Abayudaya received their nod way back in 2005, when Kenzo hadn’t joined the music industry.
The group was nominated for Best Traditional World Music Album alongside Raise Your Spirit Higher – Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa, El Grupo Cimarron – Si, Soy Llanero: Joropo Music from the Orinoco Plains of Colombia, Sandra Luna – Tango Varon and Pero Negro – Jolgorio. The awards ceremony was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles the year they were nominated.
Somi became the second group in the country to get the nomination in 2008.
Then TV star, Kawalya Isaac Kaiyz, also jumped on the debate with claims that Kenzo is not only the first contemporary artist in Uganda but also in the whole Region to get the nod, before journalist, Gabriel Buule, schooled him with so much info.
“East African!! Do you know a Kenyan called Kaycyy alisa Mark Mbogo who featured on “Hurricane” by Ye feat. Lil Baby? Did you read about Michael Kennedy aka Naiboi, Michael Bundi and Wyre?? How about Bensoul and Sauti Sol becoming Grammy Award-winning songwriters?” Gabriel Buule tweeted.
The nominations for the 65th annual Grammy awards were announced on Tuesday ahead of the ceremony that will take place on February 5 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Enock Mugabi aka iWitness is a Journalist, Seasoned Writer and Music Analyst with a passion for sports.
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