TAKEAWAYS

• Daddy Andre claims many Ugandan artists adopted his vocal style, intonation and harmonies.
• He says poor management often limits artists whose ambitions are much bigger.
• He argues Uganda’s weak music economy makes concerts financially difficult for local artists.

Ugandan musician, producer and songwriter Daddy Andre has claimed that he played a major role in changing the sound of Uganda’s music industry, arguing that many of today’s artists adopted the style he pioneered.

Speaking during a radio interview, Daddy Andre, real name Andrew Ojambo, said that when he entered the music scene, he deliberately created a different sound and approach to singing. He believes the artists who came after him borrowed heavily from his intonation, vocal delivery and harmonies, with some going on to become major stars.

He explained that his intention was not necessarily to prove that he was the best, but to demonstrate that Ugandan musicians could explore different sounds and still succeed.

“When I started singing, I set a precedent. The intonation, the way of singing, the harmonies — now every artist sounds like me.”

Daddy Andre, who first made his name as a producer before establishing himself as a singer and songwriter, has worked on numerous successful projects. His breakthrough as a singer came through collaborations including “You and Me” with Lydia Jazmine.

He also blamed poor management and limited ambition for the struggles faced by some Ugandan artists. According to him, some young musicians like Ava Peace dream of becoming global stars like Rihanna and Beyoncé, but their managers often impose smaller ambitions based on what they understand.

“An artist like Ava Peace can grow up dreaming of being Rihanna or Beyoncé, but the manager wants to make them Shakira because that is what they know,” he said.

Daddy Andre further argued that Uganda’s concert business reflects the wider financial struggles of the local music industry. He said artists can organise shows, allow affiliated people in for free and still finish the night financially struggling.

He contrasted this with international stars such as Chris Brown, who, he said, can stage major concerts, make significant money and take time away from performing.

For that reason, Daddy Andre said he has largely stayed away from organising concerts, arguing that Uganda’s music industry remains too poor to make them financially worthwhile.