'Salvador is a traitor. He stole my idea' - Maro
Feb 17, 2020
Comedian Salvador Idringi is a traitor. I was so shocked to see his posters announcing a show on Valentine's day. He even stole my concept of celebrating 10 years
Ronald Magada, alias Maro, brokethrough in 2013 with Genda Ewamwe.
Then, he was the CEO of an entertainment crew called Vocal Police, under which he had signed other artistes. But after two years, things collapsed and he went solo. He rebranded to RnB Kyabazinga. Maro vanished from the music scene until last year, when he returned with Anjagala. He will be celebrating 10 years on Valentine's Day in a concert, but the pile of beef he has for other artistes has threatened to eclipse the event. JARIAT NAKITENDE caught up with the sulky artiste.
You claim to be the best vocalist in Uganda. Who gave you that title?
I know I am good. Okay, let's say I am one of the best in Uganda. My work speaks for itself and I get respect from fellow artistes, which is something hard to get in an industry where there is a lot of competition. I'm not bragging, it's the truth.
People say your Anjagala song was fake until you did a remix with Feffe Bussi...
Everyone has an opinion, but I don't agree with that theory. The song is still playing the eight months after its release and was among the top 20 count down charts last year.
Why did you do a remix then?
By the time I released the song, my girl was about to give birth, so I had to leave the country. I also wanted to ensure that the song continues to be played, hence the collabo remix with Feffe Bussi. This way, he would perform the song in my absentia, so it continues to be a hit. If you can recall, Rickman's Ebango continued to play while he was in Sweden, because he made sure he released a remix version with DT Timo.
What happened to the Vocal Police — the entertainment crew you started?
We started out well, out of a sense of brotherhood. The problem is that the people I started it with expected too much of me, yet I had my personal career to think of.
Do you still talk to Nutty Neithan?
Yes, we talk. But we are not as close as we used to be. You know we used to live in the same house?
Empress is responsible for the distance between you two?
(Looks annoyed, takes off shades)
That's not true. I met Empress before Nutty Neithan. In fact, I told her to bring Nutty and we work together. By that time, Empress and I were already dating.
Why do you love only white babes?
Many of my ex-girlfriends are 100% black, and Ugandan.
Empress is the one I fell in love with, not the one I first loved.
Didn't you lose female fans when you chose a white woman?
She's my girlfriend and those are affairs of the heart. It's racist to point out her skin colour. It actually annoys me when people call her white like she is not human. Fans? I still have a lot of them.
Salvador
People say you are only with a white lady because of her money. Is she your chief funder?
If that were true, I wouldn't be making music. I'd be at home, waiting for her money.
We hear she's the one who funded your sh20m studio (Volume Up Studio). I worked my sweat off to afford that studio and saved every penny for it. Believe me, if I had an endless supply of cash, I wouldn't be organizing a concert.
I am an African man and I know men are the providers. She is my girlfriend, not my mother. I built the studio with my hard-earned money.
There were many events on Valentine's Day and we hear you are beefing with some artistes because of this. Tell us more.
I booked the date first. But I was shocked to receive calls from sponsors saying Rema was sabotaging my date. I was in Germany at the time. Rema shouldn't have chosen that date. It was a low blow.
If you had a chance, would you tell Rema to change the venue then?
I don't think I would. Even comedian Salvador Idringi is a traitor. He invited me for his
Just Laugh comedy at Kingdom Kampala, where I announced that I would be holding a concert on Valentine's Day, only for him to steal the idea a month later. I announced that I would be celebrating 10 years in the industry and he even promised to connect me to some sponsors. I was so shocked to see his posters announcing a show on the same day. He even stole my concept of celebrating 10 years.
How is fatherhood?
So far so good. I am having sleepless nights, but it's amazing, you cannot sleep when the baby is crying. I baby sit like 95% of the time; mostly at night.
Your father resented you for taking on music. Are you on talking terms these days?
Yes. I talk to him every after three days. He now knows that I am a mature man and he is proud of me.
Did you date Iryn Namubiru?
No. We only did a song together.
Did you sleep with her?
She knows my home, not my bedroom. Just to be clear, we shot the video in my home. Iryn and I are just good friends; the pictures people saw were used to promote our song. Rumors that we were dating started when people saw the flower petals on the bed from one of the scenes from the shoot. I can't be held responsible for people's rumor mongering.
Do you plan to quit singing?
Yes, I think I will stop singing, but I cannot leave the music industry. The music part of it is full of hatred; imagine sabotaging concerts! I am fed up of it.