Ugandan musician Zulanda has pushed back against claims that his career is fading, arguing that he has never measured his success by constant visibility or being the biggest star in the country.
Zulanda said he does not feel compelled to respond to every opinion about him on social media because artists have different goals, priorities and definitions of success.
“The word fading is on every Ugandan’s lips but they don’t know what it means. The only time a person fades is when they’re dead,” he said.
For Zulanda, being less visible does not necessarily mean an artist has lost relevance. He explained that he never entered the music industry with the ambition of becoming Uganda’s biggest star or being seen everywhere and all the time.
“People set out with different dreams and priorities. I’ve never set out to be the biggest star in Uganda,” he said.
Instead, Zulanda says much of his contribution to music has happened away from the spotlight, particularly through songwriting. He maintained that his motivation is rooted in passion and building a career that can withstand the passage of time.
“I have friends who can put me out there but I do this because of the passion and to remain relevant for a long run,” he said.
The musician also suggested that he knows how to increase his visibility if he ever decides that is what he wants. His point, however, is that constant social media attention has never been the main measure of his career.
Zulanda is instead betting on longevity. He said he expects to remain relevant for decades rather than chasing short-term popularity.
“I’m going to be relevant for the next 20-30 years. Look out for me,” he said.
That long-term outlook is central to his response to the “faded” label. Rather than seeing periods of lower visibility as the end of an artist’s journey, Zulanda appears to view his career as something that can evolve beyond the demands of constant public attention.
And he had one final message for anyone ready to write him off.
“Fading doesn’t belong to our vocabulary,” Zulanda stressed.