Eddy Kenzo has given Bobi Wine his flowers, praising the Ugandan music icon for the storytelling and songwriting skills that impressed him long before he became a major star himself.
While discussing Uganda’s long-running “Big 3” music debate, Kenzo recalled being drawn to Bobi Wine’s music during his younger years, particularly because of the way the singer turned stories into songs.
Speaking while chatting with Shalom Kaweesi and Frank Ntambi, Kenzo said he admired Bobi Wine enough to perform his music during his karaoke days, singling out the song “Wendi.”
“I always admired Bobi Wine, and when performing during my karaoke days, I often performed his song ‘Wendi’. I loved how Bobi Wine wrote his music,” Kenzo said.
For Kenzo, the appeal went beyond catchy songs. He specifically praised Bobi Wine’s ability to compose narratives that leave an impression while delivering them in a distinctive musical style.
“He is a good composer, and when you listen to the stories he composes, he leaves a wow factor,” Kenzo said. “He also delivers his stories musically, very uniquely in an urban way.”
Kenzo’s comments add his voice to a conversation that has followed Uganda’s biggest artists for years, with Bobi Wine’s songwriting and storytelling frequently discussed when musicians are compared across generations.
He also addressed Bebe Cool’s place in Uganda’s music scene, acknowledging the veteran singer’s abilities while explaining why his music did not connect with Kenzo in the same way during his early years.
“Bebe (Cool) has always been a good musician, but I was from the ghetto, and his reach wasn’t very good there,” Kenzo said. “He was more of an urban artist, so we didn’t receive him well in the ghettos.”
For Kenzo, the distinction appears to come down to the environment he grew up in and the music that reached people in those communities. His praise for Bobi Wine, meanwhile, centers firmly on the songwriting and storytelling that first caught his attention as a young artist.