Bobi Wine

"The world is looking for somebody to do something, not explain why he did not."

These words, uttered by none other than Mr. Bobi Wine reveal one who has gone through it all. By that, I mean all the constant hardships and hopelessness third world musicians go through without any breakthrough to success. But Mr. Bobi Wine is one of the few exceptions to the rule. His story has been the most inspiring one we have heard at www.musicuganda.com.

Born on the 12th of February in 1982 in Mpigi District south west of Kampala capital, Bobi Wine was christened Robert Kyagulanyi and joined nine other siblings into the harsh life of ghetto living in Kamwokya, one of the worst slums of Kampala.

His childhood life was characterized by moving from one school to another that he lost count.
"I could only study for a term before getting expelled for fees. So the only option was to move to another."

In secondary school he experienced set backs as his problems became more complicated.
"I used to have no money for uniforms and my mother was doing her best to cater for my fees and the family. So I had to go around doing odd jobs like collecting water for money and things like that."

If his problems taught him anything, definitely innovation was one of them."Underground shows with a Walkman, a borrowed amplifier and a speaker was how I used to make ends meet. I would spread the word and after school charge students fifty shillings (less than half dollar) per head and we would jam! I got into trouble with the school administration but that was the way I made my pocket money."

By the end of his 'O' levels he had composed many songs but had no money to record. It was one of the most disheartening things in his pursuit of his musical dream."We would listen to the local songs on radio and know we could do better, but the expensive rates would just keep us from recording our numbers. I know of many good artists, some better than I who gave up because it wasn't worth it. It was so frustrating………So frustrating."

In '98 after his 'A' levels, he finally saved some money over the years to record and managed to make four tracks; Kalyonso, Doreen, Namulembe but they were of very low quality. They therefore did not receive any credit or attention. That didn't faze him. He increased his intensity of odd jobs like collecting edible grasshoppers for sale in his vacation.

Then he tried his luck again in 2000, and recorded Abakyala, this didn't do well either. By then he was in his first year in Makerere University and made mud bricks during his free time. He also did painting, while he was a porter at a building site.

Then finally, late last year the chance to record again came and Bobi managed to record his song "Akagoma" meaning 'the drum'." I had to do it within thirty minutes because I was in through backdoor connections. And when thirty minutes was up I was kicked out. I thank those guys." This song later became a hit and is now the latest radio and nightclub craze. Finally Mr. Bobi Wine has room to breathe.

With an album spanning six tracks like Angel featuring his long time musical friend, Parrot, the album is definitely a must hear. This album is the characteristic of Ugandan talent and definitely Mr. Bobi Wine is destined for greater heights.

" I love the reggae/dancehall style because I feel that's the best way I can express myself. And also it is the best medium to communicate content and message. It is because I have something to say and that's the best medium for it. It is music for my people, the poor where I come from.

Artists like Shabba and Bounty Killer are the major inspirations for my music. I chose music because I never had real happiness in life, it's the only thing that consoles me."
So here's musicuganda's favorite question; what has been his best and worst moment in his music career?

"My best moment is yet to come. I haven't yet reached my goals yet. Until then I won't have peace.
" My worst moment has been The Millennium Show at Lugogo show grounds. We were totally disrespected and booed down by the crowd. It was really bad. And the Sanyu Carnival last year. It was awful.

What about his best person?

" My mother and any one who loves me. Anybody who hates me is my worst person. My role models are my Mom and Dad." So are there any new songs coming up soon?

"Yes, I have a busy work schedule coming up since I have completed my course. This time, it's really going to be the bomb." All right we'll wait for that and until then watch this space.

Bobi Wine's Introduction - By Julie Erusa

Photos By Kayiwa Ahmed, Tel: +256-712-834507, Email:kayiwamed@yahoo.com

It's now official!!!

Last Weekend Bobi Wine was introduced (Kuhingira) by his longtime girlfriend Barbara Itungoin a colorful function in Ntungamo. Music Uganda was there to cover the function. Now we wait for the big day.

Bobi Wine is Living His Dream By Ultimate Media Consult

Bobi Wine - I am a rich man. But let me put this straight. Fame and fortune are aspects of life but life is bigger than both are. You cannot compare life to money. Ask anyone in Uganda who the most successful music artist in Uganda is and the answer will most likely be Bobi Wine. Despite coming from the Ghetto, Bobi Wine is arguably the most successful artist in Uganda today. He was born as Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert to Mr. and Mrs. J.W Sentamu Bulaya of Gomba, Kanoni in Mpigi district. He is from the Mbogo clan. Like most successful people, Bobi Wine had a difficult childhood. His father was poor and had many children.

Bobi Knocks out  Bebe by Isaac Ssejjombwe

Dominance in the music business is by far what anyone would strive for in the music business because self proclaimed Uganja and Ghetto president Bobi Wine last Sunday knocked out mentor and former ally Bebe Cool during ekitoobero concert at nakivubo stadium because of a statement he made on stage. The outburst was sparked off when Bebe made said during his performance to hundreds of thousands that there are two big guns in the music industry him and Chameleon which made Bobi Wine so infuriated.

On descending the stairs from the stage, Bebe found a rather angry Bobi waiting for him and both started exchanging hot words before Bobi punched him hard on the face saying that no one can intimidate him like that in front of his fans. The bafuude singer then pushed Bobi but other firebase crew members especially Kabaya pounced on him causing various injuries all over his body before Meddie Nsereko and other bouncers could separate the two parties. After the incident, Bebe proceeded to old Kampala police station to open up a case and after headed to mayo clinic to receive further treatment. Bebe has now canselled all his upcoming trips to bushenyi, Mbarara, among other places to nurse his wounds.

Many thought the beef between these musicians especially the top guys was a narration but it seems otherwise and what hurts is that many upcoming artists look up to these guys as mentors, guiders and role models but hearing them fight frequently devastates the trust from not only their fellow artists but also their diehard fans.

Uganda Entertainment News: Bobi Wine wants to be a Michael Jackson - By Ultimate Media

Uganda’s music star, Bobi Wine has said he is working hard to become an international singer who moves crowds of people the way the king of Pop, Michael Jackson has been. Michael Jackson died on Thursday last week. Bobi Wine says he is greatly inspired by musicians like Michael Jackson who come from humble backgrounds and end up influencing the global scene.

He also says music is his passion and life and hopes he will become a big hit on the international scene. Bobi Wine who has performed in East Africa, America and in Europe says he dreams to exploit all his talents in music before he dies. Bobi, who is also known as the President of the Ghetto says he is soon releasing an album that will move lives of music fans in Uganda and the world at large. He declines to reveal the name of his new album and the songs it contains.

Juliana, Bobi, Chameleon to accompany Mayinja by Ultimate Media

The Eagles Production’s star singer, Ronald Mayinja is set to stage three album launches in Kampala and Mukono districts. Mayinja will launch his Land Lord album on Friday July 10th at Hotel Africana in Kampala. On Saturday July 11th Mayinja will stage another launch at Collin’s Hotel in Mukono. The last launch will take place on Sunday at Gaba Beach in Kampala.

At Hotel Africana, the revealers will pay 50,000 shillings for high table seats and the ordinary fans will pay 20,000 shillings. The fans, who will wish to attend the launch from Gaba and in Mukono will each pay 5,000 shillings. The Eagles Production star will be accompanied by musicians Bobi Wine, Jose Chameleon, Juliana Kanyomozi, The Obsessions, Amalula Family and Dr. Tee among others.

Mayinja’s Land Lord album has six songs. In the song landlord Mayinja exposes some of the problems caused to people by land grabbers. The album also has two love songs called Kweka (hide) and Londa enumbayo (pick your love number).

Mayinja is known for composing love and controversial political songs. Some of the controversial songs Mayinja has composed include Tulikubunkenke feena (people on political tension), Africa teli ayamba (no one available to help Africa) and Tube kyakulabirako (let us be role models).

Bobi licensed to carry a gun by Isaac Ssejjombwe.

it’s hard to believe but info reaching us is that uganja president has been given a green light to carry a gun by police chief Maj Gen kale kaihura.

Due to the increasing number of crime rates caused by drug use, Bobi has been appointed head of a new task force that will be fighting drug usage especially in ghetto areas and a gun was given to him to make his work more appropriate.

Different people have mixed feelings about this because they believe the ghetto president being the number one culprit to smoke the forbidden drug, should have been the last option to be fighting it yet others believe it’s for the best because it will not only help Bobi Wine stop smoking weed but also other ghetto children since he acts as an example to many living in slum areas through his musical success.

Isac44@gmail.com

Two Launches on the same date!!! By Isaac Ssejjombwe

For the first time in history, Uganda will witness the battle of the greatest as two of its finest will be tussling for supremacy in the music world. Bebe Cool and Bobi Wine are slated to launch their albums on the same day, same time but in different places.

Bebe Cool, famously known as ‘big is big”, will be launching his Bamugambe album at Kyadondo Rugby Club while his counterpart Bobi Wine and self proclaimed “mazzi mawanvu” (deep waters) will be launching his Carolina album at Hotel Africana peoples space.

Apparently, this is to find out who the better gun is; concerning the local music fraternity and who ever will attract a bigger crowd will be deemed the best Entertainer. Both artists have singles on their respective albums which have turned out to be the public’s favorites and have enormously received good radio air play. Wesotinge, Carolina, Promise are some of the songs that have made Bobi Wine a respected artist in Uganda, while hits like Agenze, Bamugambe, Sweet Loving, Lwaki Seyagala, Why Africa are responsible for making Bebe Cool a force to reckon in the Music Industry.

Fascinatingly, both artists who were one time allies against Chameleon, another big name in Ugandan music industry, have a long list of similar artists to curtain raise at their launches but a better offer will certainly lure some to decide which to perform on. Expectantly, this will help solve the fracas that has been going on between these two artists, but it is entirely up to the fans to support their favorite artist come October this year.

Isac44@gmail.com

Bebe, Bobi set records by Isaac Ssejjombwe.

In one corner was Bebe Cool at kyadondo rugby club with his Agenze album launch organized by Balaam and Silk events and in the opposite corner was Bobi Wine at Africana people’s space with Carolina launch organized by Kibo and Events ware house. The judges were the fans and the fight was all about supremacy in the music industry. What started as a musical battle ended up with both artists making tremendous records that will take a music genius to break.

Bobi Wine’s dream by Isaac Ssejjombwe

Self proclaimed Ghetto and Uganja President Bobi Wine is losing it and losing it pretty fast going by his new track Dream (Ekiroto). With his Edutainment thing still going on, Bobi remains intact with his message in the new song but slips when he starts preaching to his followers about hope and encouragement in a more typical Pentecostal spirited preaching style just like Pastors do to their subjects.

In some verses, he talks of how he dreamt having Tea with Chameleon and of how he saw President Museveni and FDC leader Col Kizza Besigye talking peacefully about the future of the country. He even sings about seeing sheik Kayongo and Mufti Mubaje reconciling about their Islamic issues in his dream.

In a more commanding tone, backed by his backup singers, the Kiwaani artist tells his followers to be blessed in the chorus of this particular song. And to make things even more complicated for his die hard fans, Bobi is struggling with his own verses. He even sounds off key and off rhythm in some of the verses while competing with the beat so that the words could easily fit in the song.

For sure your Excellency this is would be a wonderful dream if it was to become reality.

Isac44@gmail.com

“Ina de dance” by Isaac Ssejjombwe.

The combination of Bobi Wine, Sizzaman, Mega Dee and Butcherman is quite an odd one. One proclaims himself to be the Ghetto President, the other his vice president.
Yet another refers to himself as the Busoga ambassador while the last one is engaged to TV personality Straka.

They all rose up to their standards in their respective verses and reached the expectations of their fans in this respective song.

Being a dance hall track and produced at Afande records (Mega Dee’s) studios, the hit has no clear message just a get-to-the-dance-floor and throw-your-hands-in-the-air kind of track related to Mr Dj by the all stars. The huge base in this track makes it more agile thus a bonus on the production. Ina De dance is a good song by the right choice of artists.

Isac44@gmail.com

Bobi - Bebe at it again by Isaac ssejjombwe.

Hardly two years after their battle for supremacy while launching Carolina and Agenze respectively, Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool are it again but this time round in concerts.

Soon after clearing his debt of 50million shillings and acquiring the land housing Busabala beach, Bobi is set to hold a concert dubbed Ekyapa Nkilina at Busabala beach on Easter Monday. Self proclaimed King of the Jungle Bebe Cool will also be holding his East African carnival at Kiwatule Recreation centre on the same date and time.

The East African carnival is held annually and is one of Bebe’s most successful shows ever.
Being the first concert he’s organizing after the shooting incidence alongside his aides a few months back, the carnival will as well act as Bebe’s welcome back party to the music industry.

Entrance fee for both concerts is 5000shs and both artists have the same musicians to curtain raise at their concerts respectively.

 Isac44@gmail.com

Bobi wine’s Mr. Katala by Isaac Ssejjombwe.

We just don’t know wats happening with our musicians lately because soon after GNL released Nyo Nyo Nyo and dices music lovers, Now Bobi Wine is the recent artist to out yet another tune of the same nature. The self proclaimed Uganja president has released a new track called Mr Katala but all indications are directed to his rival Bebe Cool.

In the introduction he says that Frenemies fear what they don’t know en hate what they fear that’s why they hate me mother…… you guessed right. Bobi dedicates this song to his fans and whoever hates him and goes ahead to claim that some people don’t have any gratitude towards him even after lecturing them on how to treat their wives.

The song is full of praises and self consciousness but lacks the message he always delivers in most of his tracks. He also uses vulgar words in some of the lines. Not realizing his pessimism about this track, Bobi ends with a line that says it’s all about Lyrical maturity!

Isac44@gmail.com

Another sibling for Bobi Wine by Isaac Ssejjombwe.

Bobi wine’s home increased by a new member last week when wife and mother too his two kids Barbie gave birth to a bouncing baby boy at Kololo.

The 3kg baby was born by caesarean section and is named Shilling Shaka Kyagulanyi.

According to Bobi, the boy was named Shilling because he (Bobi) has lots of money on his account. Shaka was from a former South African ruler named Shaka Zulu and because of his supremacy; the Ghetto artist has him as one of his role models.
 
The new born kid becomes Bobi’s third in three years and comes with those awkward names just like his first two kids with names Solomon Kampala Kyagulanyi and Nairobi Shalom.

Isac44@gmail.com

Bobi wine blacks out by Isaac Ssejjombwe.

Local singer Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine was rushed to mulago hospital after fainting last evening.

The cause of the fainting is attributed to malaria the Ghetto President is suffering from lately according to his wife Barbie.

He’s still under medication having been on drips with six bottles last evening.
“It’s the first time this is happening and we got worried at the beginning but when doctors examined him, they told us we have nothing to be worried of” was Barbie’s reply after a brief phone interview.

By press time, Bobi had been discharged and was resting at his home in Gayaza.Well we wish his excellence a quick recovery for the music industry can’t do without his Edutainment.

Isac44@gmail.

Bobi defies doctors orders by Isaac Ssejjombwe.

“Doctors say rest, but the President says no more rest. They also say stop smoking, but I say more smoking.” were the words said by Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine during his performance at Grace’s concert at KCC grounds.

Hardly had he said the same words at the Gudlyf Ngenda Maso launch at Africana people’s space, Bobi became shaky and completed his final performance with the help of Moze Radio and Weasel indicating that he was still not doing fine. 

The artist was last week rushed to mulago hospital after blacking out with indications of fatigue, stress and malaria.
He received over twelve drips before getting discharged on Tuesday evening, with strict warnings of taking a musical break of about three months.

Four days after getting discharged, the self proclaimed Ghetto president defied the Doctors orders of getting sufficient rest by performing at both album launches.

Click here to read more about Bobi Wine

 Isac44@gmail.com

Bobi’s hits back at Bebe by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256-078-2-233273)

A few weeks back, Bebe made some statements about Bobi Wine which didn’t go well with the self proclaimed Ghetto president thus sparking off arguments of who the best artist is between the two. Well this time round, we bring you Bobi’s reply to Bebe’s statements earlier on.

Bobi said that with Bebe’s attitude and luck of respect for other artists, he neither has beef no business with him. “I personally visited Bebe in hospital to show my full support to a brother but what does he do when I was admitted? Publicly saying that the reason for my admission was too much drugs.” Were Bobi’s other comments on that issue.

“Mr Katala is a dedication to two kinds of people. My Friends who enjoy my music and my enemies so Bebe should sort himself out and clarify if he’s my fan or my enemy because I defeat him lyrically, physically, financially, musically and academically.” Bobi Wine added.

“At just 30, I own a beach, a mansion and several state of the art rides basically accomplishing everything in the music industry only left with purchasing a plane and owning a five star hotel a few years from now.” He also bragged.
 
Concerning his “Mr Katala song, he said that anyone who pretends to know everything yet he doesn’t is a “Katala” and because he (Bebe) has a perverted mind, he thinks the video is about him.
“A day to the video shoot, I gave one of my boys 10k to buy a pair of shoes and I was so astonished when he returned with a pair of shinny sneakers  plus 3000shs as the remaining balance.” Bobi concluded.

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Bobi to be sued over plagiarism by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256-078-2-233273)

Soon after settling the land tenants who were claiming to own his one luv beach premises, singer Bobi Wine is yet again in trouble for “Plagiarism” charges.

It is said Robinah Bisiilikilwa, wife to fallen star Paul Job Kafero of the Kadongo kamu fame is willing to take the self proclaimed Uganja President to the courts of law for  re-doing “ Dipo Nazigala” to “Ghetto Nazigala”.
 
“The song is said to be one of Paul’s best going by requests and airplay it received on most media houses but for an artist such as Bobi Wine to re-do the song shows lack of respect because he never got consent from the family.” according to an insider.

The song is almost the same except for the few lines and fast beats Bobi changed to make captivating for his fans.

Now Bisiliikilwa is willing to take the matter as far as the courts of law unless the “Mr Money” singer pays an amount she’s yet to disclose as a lesson to others for not repeating the same act.

Paul Kafeero dated Robina Bisiliikilwa who by then was still in Kulabako guitar singer as a buck up artist and was among his many wives.