From Rolex seller to promising musician

Sep 18, 2008

UNTIL last year, he worked as a porter at Capital Arcade in Kikuubo, the business hub of Kampala. During daytime, he carried luggage and did other energy-sapping menial jobs like off-loading goods from trailers.

By Joseph Batte

UNTIL last year, he worked as a porter at Capital Arcade in Kikuubo, the business hub of Kampala. During daytime, he carried luggage and did other energy-sapping menial jobs like off-loading goods from trailers.

In the evening, 26-year-old Zinda Fahad also sold rolex (eggs rolled in chapatti) at Growers in Kawempe, a city suburb, to make ends meet.

“During my spare time I used to write songs. After I saved some money, I went to a small studio in Makindye and recorded my first single.

I took it to Ssebalamu, the owner of Mini Price Arcade, because I needed financial assistance. Ssebalamu was surprised by the song and offered to meet the studio charges,” he says.

Subsequently, Fahad linked up with beat master Joe Tabula, resulting in the release of Byemubagamba, a kadongo kamu (country) single.

Although he did not score any commercial success with the song, the video helped thrust him in the spotlight between 2006 and 2007.

His style is a cross between the old and new — contemporary kadongo kamu, but delivered with enticing reggae beats.
Recently, he bounced back with a new album Omusango sagumanya (I Did not Know The Crime) — his strongest and biggest performance.

In the track, he asks many questions like: Was the killing of Saddam Hussein in front of cameras humane? What about the unfortunate kids who are suffering from the deadly HIV? He does not provide answers, but leaves the issues to debate.

The motivation to sound more serious has already given him a kind of legitimacy to walk in the elevated company of the likes of Gerard Kiweewa.

“Fahad has enough talent to turn him into a serious musician if he works hard at it,” says his producer, Joe Tabula.

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