TAKEAWAYS

• Musician Winnie Nwagi revealed that surviving the brutal Ugandan music industry requires immense strength and resilience.
• During the Let’s Talk About It podcast, Nwagi jokingly suggested all local artists deserve awards just for staying afloat.
• She explained that many musicians quit the scene because they were unable to handle the intense pressure of the industry.

Musician Winnie Nwagi has opened up about the challenges that come with being an artist in Uganda, revealing that surviving in the country’s music industry requires a lot of strength, resilience and perseverance.

Speaking on the Let’s Talk About It podcast hosted by fellow musician Sheebah Karungi, Nwagi joked that all Ugandan artists deserve to receive an award simply for managing to survive in the industry, considering how difficult the journey can be.

“Being a Ugandan artist, they would be calling us and hand over one award to all of us because it’s not easy,” she said.

She went on to explain that the tough nature of the industry is one of the reasons some musicians are no longer active or visible in the entertainment scene. According to her, some simply reached a point where they could no longer handle the pressure and decided to walk away.

“Some of them weren’t strong enough for it, so they found an exit,” she said.

The Musawo singer further noted that being in the Ugandan music industry requires one to develop a thick skin and become accustomed to difficult experiences. She explained that many of the artists who are still active today went through a lot during their early years in the industry, which helped them build the resilience they now have.

Nwagi added that some of the challenges artists face today are not entirely new to them, as they have experienced similar situations before and have gradually learned how to deal with them.

She concluded by emphasising that the music industry is not an easy space to survive in, especially for those who are not prepared to endure its challenges.

“It’s not for the weak,” she concluded.