TAKEAWAYS

• Kalifah AgaNaga says he nearly left music after experiencing financial struggles and feeling ignored by some fellow artists.
• The singer recalled traveling to London but returning to Uganda after realizing life abroad was more difficult than expected.
• He credits advice from friend Emma Carlos, who reminded him that artists like Chameleone and Bebe Cool also overcame difficult periods, for encouraging him to keep going.

Ugandan singer Kalifah AgaNaga has opened up about some of the difficult moments he has experienced throughout his music career, revealing that there were times he seriously considered leaving Uganda in search of better opportunities.

Speaking to Sanyuka TV, the singer said the music industry can be emotionally draining, explaining that there are moments when he reaches out to fellow artists for support but feels ignored.

He also reflected on the financial pressures that come with being an established musician, noting that artists become accustomed to a certain lifestyle that can be difficult to maintain when bookings and music projects slow down.

AgaNaga revealed that he prepared for such uncertain moments by securing visas in his passport in case he ever needed to leave the country and look for work elsewhere.

“I’ve also been through that, but I secured visas in my passport for when such times happen and I need to fly out of the country,” he said.

The singer recalled travelling to London several years ago with hopes of finding greener pastures. While his first week was filled with a warm welcome from friends and acquaintances, reality quickly set in during the second week as he realized he needed a job and the necessary paperwork to survive.

Rather than remain abroad under difficult circumstances, AgaNaga decided to return home.

“I hadn’t used my return ticket, so I paid an extra fee and came back to Uganda to my music,” he shared, adding that he still keeps valid visas in case he ever finds himself in a similar situation again.

Despite the hardships, AgaNaga said encouragement from his friend Emma Carlos gave him the strength to persevere. According to the singer, Emma reminded him that even music giants like Jose Chameleone and Bebe Cool had experienced difficult seasons that forced them to leave Uganda before eventually returning to successful careers.

“He told me to be patient because music is my calling and it would eventually pay off if I didn’t give up,” AgaNaga said.