Ugandan musician Zulanda is pushing back against claims that his music career is fading, arguing that the label is often misunderstood and does not reflect the way he approaches his career.
Zulanda says he does not feel compelled to respond to every opinion about him on social media because artists enter the industry with different ambitions. For him, constant visibility has never been the goal.
“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.
The musician explained that he has never set out to become Uganda’s biggest star or to maintain a constant presence in the public eye.
“People set out with different dreams and priorities. I’ve never set out to be the biggest star in Uganda,” Zulanda said, adding that he has never wanted to be seen “by everyone, everywhere and all the time.”
That approach, he suggested, has allowed him to concentrate on the creative side of the business, particularly songwriting and work that happens away from the cameras.
“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.
Zulanda also indicated that he knows how to increase his public visibility if he chooses to make social media and mainstream exposure a bigger priority.
His bigger focus, however, is longevity. Rather than measuring his career by how frequently he appears online or dominates conversations, Zulanda says he is thinking about where his music will stand years from now.
“I’m going to be relevant for the next 20-30 years. Look out for me,” he said.
The musician ultimately dismissed the suggestion that his career is on its way out, making it clear that he sees his quieter approach as part of a long-term strategy rather than a sign of decline.
“Fading doesn’t belong to our vocabulary,” Zulanda stressed.