Ava Peace says joining Jeff Kiwa’s management has changed the way people approach her in Uganda’s music industry, particularly when it comes to unwanted sexual advances.
Speaking during a YouTube podcast, the singer said she previously received frequent sexual advances from people within the entertainment industry.
According to Ava, her association with Kiwa has made some people more cautious about approaching her disrespectfully.
She described the veteran music manager as a father figure and someone she can turn to when she faces challenges, saying his reputation gives her an added sense of protection.
But Ava’s comments also opened the door to another chapter of her career — her early experience with Black Market Records, where she says she signed documents without fully understanding what she was agreeing to.
Ava Peace opened up about the challenges she says she faced before joining Jeff Kiwa’s Team No Sleep (TNS) management.
The singer said she frequently encountered unwanted sexual advances from people in the entertainment industry, describing the situation as something that became difficult to navigate as an upcoming artist.
She believes her current association with Kiwa has changed that dynamic.
“It is hard now. Even the person I’m working with is so respected, so how do you start on Jeff’s musician?” Ava said.
She added that she reports people who disrespect her to Kiwa.
“I report those who disrespect me to him,” she said.
Ava described Kiwa as a father figure, explaining that she can openly discuss her experiences and challenges with him.
She also referred to the manager as a “gun,” using the description to emphasize the protection she believes comes from his reputation and influence within the industry.
For Ava, the relationship appears to go beyond a conventional artist-manager arrangement. She sees Kiwa as someone who can provide guidance and support while she navigates the pressures that come with being a young female artist.
However, Ava’s career journey with management companies has not always been straightforward.
Before joining TNS, she had an experience with Black Market Records that she says taught her an important lesson about understanding contracts.
BLACK MARKET RECORDS EXPERIENCE
Ava explained that she was introduced to Black Market Records through singer Andre after expressing an interest in working with him.
At the time, she said, her main focus was simply making music and she did not fully understand the contractual side of the business.
“I wanted to do a song with (Daddy) Andre and he introduced me to Black Market Records. They signed me and I signed things I didn’t know because I only wanted to sing,” Ava said.
According to the singer, she recorded two songs with the label.
However, she claims the relationship eventually stalled because she felt the company was not giving her enough attention.
“We did two songs with them and that was the end,” she said.
Ava also claims the label retained control of her YouTube channel after their working relationship broke down.
She said the situation forced her to start over online, even after she involved lawyers in an attempt to recover the account.
“I had to start afresh and even when I got a lawyer, we did everything to get it back but they refused,” she claimed.
Ava’s account highlights how quickly an artist’s career can become complicated when creative ambitions collide with contracts, management arrangements and ownership of digital platforms.
Ava Peace has emerged as one of Uganda’s notable young female music acts, building her profile through music releases and collaborations.
Her comments about Jeff Kiwa come from her experience working under TNS management, where she says she has found both professional guidance and personal support.
Kiwa is a well-known figure in Uganda’s music industry and has managed several artists during his career.
For Ava, that established reputation appears to be particularly important as she continues developing her career.
Her earlier experience with Black Market Records, meanwhile, represents a different lesson.
She says that when she was starting out, her enthusiasm for making music overshadowed her understanding of contracts and business arrangements.
That experience now forms part of the story of how she has learned to navigate the industry.
Ava’s comments touch on two issues that frequently affect emerging artists: personal boundaries and business literacy.
Her account of unwanted advances highlights the pressures young artists can face while trying to establish themselves in an industry where professional and personal relationships can sometimes overlap.
At the same time, her experience with Black Market Records underscores the importance of understanding contracts before signing them.
Ava says she entered the agreement primarily because she wanted to make music and did not fully understand the documents she signed.
Her subsequent dispute over her YouTube channel also illustrates how digital assets can become an important part of an artist’s career.
For Ava, having someone she trusts enough to report uncomfortable situations to appears to have become an important part of her professional life.
She describes Kiwa as more than just her manager, calling him a father figure who listens to her experiences and challenges.
Her story also reflects the learning curve many young artists face when they move from simply creating music to managing the business side of a career.
Ava’s experiences appear to have reinforced the importance of having trusted people around her as she continues building her name.
Ava Peace says Jeff Kiwa’s reputation has given her a stronger sense of protection in an industry where she previously faced unwanted advances, while her Black Market Records experience taught her the importance of understanding the business behind the music.