Ugandan audience has made great strides over the years and has transformed from being ignorant about the web to one of the greatest active internet users in East and Central for the past two years. In fact Eddy Kenzo’s recent success is all attributed to the power Ugandans have in use of internet and more especially--- the social media platforms.
Well, well, well…. Today we bring you music artists that have been mentioned most on the web more especially through use of Google search!
If you were searching for a celebrity on Google this year, there’s a good chance you were looking for Chameleone, Bobi Wine, Bebe Cool or Kenzo. However, on the list you are about to see, you will be surprised by some name.
Using data from Google Trends, Howwe.biz has managed compile the most popular searched music artist just mid-year of 2015. In this list, news story searches and music searches have been considered by google.
#10. Kafeero, Paul Job (1970–2007) (Prince Paul Job Kafeero, Paulo Kafeero, the Golden Boy of Africa)
He is the most celebrated composer and singer in the Ugandan tradition of Kadongo Kamu. At the time of his death, he was planning to celebrate 20 years of an illustrious music career. His catalogue consists of 83 songs on 21 albums.
It was his 1994 hit Walumbe Zaaya, a fifteen-minute lament on death in which no word is repeated, which sent him into the Ugandan musical stratosphere. That song earned him the enduring nickname the Golden Boy of Africa from the 1994 Cairo music festival attended by thousands of African contestants, where he won a gold medal from the Institute d'Etudes Theatreales.
In 2003, his hit song Dipo Naziggala, which pokes fun at the drinking habits of Ugandans, won a Pearl of Africa Music Award (PAM) for best Kadongo Kamu single. In both 2003 and 2004, he won the PAM award for best Kadongo Kamu artist/group). With all that mentioned, according to google search trends globally, he still becomes one of thee most searched Ugandan musicians.
#9. Irene Ntale, Born 30 January 1989
She is one of the most talented Ugandan young female singers, she is also songwriter and guitarist. She sings RnB, Reggea and Acoustic soul. Irene started singing at school and in the church choir where she also learnt how to play the guitar.
She is the campaign ambassador for the Red Card to Drunk Driving campaign by Uganda Breweries Limited, Oriflame Uganda, and Ambition Mission. Her music downloads and responsibility has made most searched on the web.
#8. GNL Zamba, born Ernest .N. Zamba, 4 July 1986
One of Uganda’s best hip-hop artists under the label of Baboon Forest Entertainment which he is the CEO. GNL is considered to be one of East Africa's most influential artists and poet in Luganda and English languages.
He pursued a professional music career in 2007 after completing a bachelor's degree in environmental science at Makerere University with a hit Koyi Koyi. His being on the list may be a surprise to many, but GNL is actually the most searched hip-hop artist to be searched on the web from Uganda.
#7. Desire Luzinda, 15 August 1984
For Desire Luzinda’s case, she is famously searched on the web for just one thing: NUDE PICTURES. In November 2014, She was involved in a sex scandal when she alleged that her former boyfriend started to circulate her nude pictures for revenge. Never the less, she is one of the most bootilious musicians searched on the web.
#6. Philly Bongoley Lutaaya (19 October 1951 – 15 December 1989)
Philly is one of Uganda’s most decorated musicians. He was the first prominent Ugandan to give a human face to HIV/AIDS. Before dying of AIDS, Lutaaya had spent his remaining healthy time writing songs about his battle with AIDS and touring churches and schools throughout Uganda to spread a message of prevention and hope.
Apparently Philly Lutaaya "one of the greatest African musicians of all times" it was his album Born in Africa that most African music legends regarded him as One of Africa’s best.
Philly Lutaaya's Christmas Album produced in 1986 remains his most popular album to date. The album whose songs were written in native Luganda remains part of a strong Christmas tradition in Uganda. It included classics such as "Tumusiinze", "Gloria", "Merry Christmas, Oh Happy New Year", "Azzaalidwa" and "Zukuka" among others. His Christmas Album songs, still are the most searched on the web and especially from Europe.
#5. Edrisa Musuuza, Eddy Kenzo, April 9, 1989
He is the first Ugandan artist to ever win BET Award, what a better way to introduce him! Best known for his 2014 song "Sitya Loss". Eddy Kenzo has defied all odds to become one of the most loved musicians in East Africa. His hardwork has finally paid, and here we have him on the list.
In 2008, he was featured in the popular song "Yanimba" by Mikie Wine. His breakthrough 2010 song, "Stamina", was met with critical acclaim and was used as a theme song for Yoweri Museveni's presidential campaign. He released the album Ogenda Kunzisa in 2012. In 2013, he released Kamunguluze and toured the United States. The song "Sitya Loss" became his most popular song to date, and a video of Ghetto Kids dancing to the song went viral. Its success led to the launching of a petition to have the boys appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Kenzo released the album Sitya Loss in May 2014.
#4. Juliana Kanyomozi, born on 27 November 1982
She is the most humble and respected musician, actress, and entertainer mention it as along as it's good entertainment. Juliana rose to fame in the late 1990s as one half of the all-girl duo I-Jay, with Iryn Namubiru. The group's single titled Vive la Vie was a popular record on Ugandan radio stations at that time. After the duo disbanded, Juliana launched a solo career. It's from that point, many believe Julianna unleashed the greatness of talent.
Juliana became a judge on Tusker Project Fame from season 3 till season 6 among other things she has achieved. Juliana has achieved alot of things musically, to mention each here...it would take us weeks. With no doubt, thats why she searched more often both for her music and sexiness. She is just an angel.
#3. Bebe Cool (born 1 September 1977) (real name Moses Ssali)
He is regarded as one of top African Reggea and ragga musician. He officially started his career around 1997 in Nairobi, Kenya, but a few years later he returned to Uganda. Bebe Cool has achieved a lot of music accolades from PAM Awards, Buzz Teenz, Channel O, Kora to the controversial Hippipo awards.
Bebe Cool is husband to model and former Miss Uganda contestant Zuena Kirema and is now a father of three; two sons and a daughter, Alpha Thierry, Beata and Caysan respectively and as they wait a fourth baby. Bebe Cool is currently nominated in the MTV MAMA for the video of year category. Bebe Cool iis the most talked about singer on social media in Uganda, and its from this...that makes him number three most searched artist on the web.
#2. Bobi Wine (real name Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi) 12 February 1982
Don't ask me why Bobi wine comes to number 2 and Bebe Cool at number 3....because the answer lies with Google. We just follow search trends and a number of times an artist has been mentioned on the web. That a side.
Regarded as a President of the Ghettos in Uganda, Bobi Wine has continued to live a life --- local people admire and want to find on the web. Like many other top Ugandan artists, he is greatly loved, and his music is greatly embraced at the grass-roots level and he has been praised for singing meaningful music for an everyday person. Bobi Wine has achieved a lot of music accolades from PAM Awards, Buzz Teenz, to the Hippipo awards to mention but a few.
In 2009, MTV Africa Music Awards nominated Bobi wine's video as Best Video of the year ("Little Things You Do" ) in which he featured Kenya's female artist and wife to Nameless, Wahu. However, he didn't win.
#1. Chameleone, born Joseph Mayanja on 30 April 1979
He is one of the most popular Ugandan musicians of the 21st century and enjoys strong popularity in many countries throughout Africa. Chameleone sings in Luganda, English and Swahili. He is the undisputed King of Uganda music.
In March 2014 at the Lugogo Cricket Oval stadium in Kampala, Chameleone broke the record for the largest audience of any East African performer, drawing an estimated 40,000 fans to his "Tubonge Live" concert.
Chameleone's career began in 1996 as a DJ at the Missouri night club in Kampala while studying at the Progressive Secondary School. He was signed to the Kenyan record label Ogopa DJs. He enjoyed strong success with one of his first singles, "Bageya", which featured Kenyan artist Redsan and from that point to now, Chameleone has never rested. Every year, Chameleone produces a hit, which makes him the most searched Ugandan artist at the moment.
