Former Back 2 Life singer Yiya Mozey has shared a candid account of the highs and lows of his music career, revealing that some of the duo’s biggest hits brought widespread fame but very little financial reward.
Speaking about his journey, Yiya Mozey said he and fellow artist Ziza Bafana became household names after releasing songs such as Tebakulimba and Namagalo>, but the commercial success many fans assumed came with those records never materialized.
According to the singer, the duo earned just enough to cover their daily expenses despite the songs dominating Uganda’s airwaves.
Looking back, he says the experience exposed the financial realities many musicians faced during that era.
“We didn’t benefit from our biggest hits”
Yiya Mozey said the popularity of their music did not translate into long-term financial gains.
“The time we released our hit songs, me and Ziza Bafana, the songs (Tebakulimba and Namagalo) were popular, but we didn’t benefit at all from them. We didn’t even hold a concert or purchase any tangible product from them.”
He explained that the money they earned was mainly used to meet everyday needs rather than build wealth or invest in their careers.
For him, the success was measured more by public recognition than financial security.
The early YouTube struggle
Yiya Mozey also reflected on how different Uganda’s music industry was before artists managed their own digital platforms.
According to him, musicians at the time did not own YouTube channels and instead relied on entertainment manager Sam Yiga to help distribute their music online.
He said Sam Yiga would connect artists with DJ Deen TV, who uploaded songs to YouTube for a fee.
“By that time, artists didn’t own YouTube channels. We used to look for Sam Yiga, who would send the songs to his friend, DJ Deen TV, in the UK, to upload them on YouTube, and we had to pay for that service.”
The singer believes today’s artists enjoy greater control over their music because digital platforms are much more accessible.
Accepting that the spotlight had faded
Perhaps the most emotional part of Yiya Mozey’s reflection was his admission that accepting the decline of his music career was far from easy.
He revealed that he spent four years—from 2013 to 2017—believing he was still among Uganda’s biggest stars, even as his popularity steadily declined.
In 2017, he independently released Oh Nana and My Woman through his own YouTube channel.
The response, however, was dramatically different from the reception his earlier music had received.
Yiya Mozey recalled that his collaboration with Bukedde TV titled Wujaala became his most-watched upload with just 300 views.
At the time, he considered that a major achievement because many of his songs attracted only 50 to 80 views, while his channel had just 42 subscribers.
“It took me time to accept that my fame had hit a sudden low. I spent four years, from 2013 to 2017, in denial, thinking I was still at the top.”
Back 2 Life emerged as one of Uganda’s memorable music duos, with Yiya Mozey and Ziza Bafana producing songs that became popular across the country.
Their success came during a period when Uganda’s music industry was still developing its digital infrastructure, and artists had limited opportunities to monetize online platforms.
Unlike today’s musicians, many artists depended heavily on live performances, physical distribution, and third parties to share their music online.
Why It Matters
Yiya Mozey’s story offers a glimpse into the financial realities many musicians experienced before the rise of streaming platforms and artist-owned digital channels.
His experience also highlights how fame does not always translate into financial success, particularly during periods when monetization opportunities were limited.
For younger artists, his reflections serve as a reminder of how much the music business has evolved over the past decade.
Beyond the hit songs and public recognition, Yiya Mozey’s story is one of resilience and self-acceptance.
His admission that it took years to come to terms with the decline of his popularity offers an honest look at the emotional challenges artists can face when life in the spotlight begins to change.
From chart-topping hits to rebuilding his career in the digital era, Yiya Mozey’s journey reflects both the triumphs and struggles behind Uganda’s music industry. His story is a reminder that success isn’t only measured by fame—but by the ability to keep moving forward.