Calvin Says Music, Not Money, Should Define Artistes
Ugandan media personality Calvin the Entertainer has pushed back against comparisons between old and new Ugandan artistes, following remarks by Eddy Kenzo that sparked debate.
Calvin said judging artistes based on wealth or lifestyle is unfair, arguing that each generation worked under very different conditions.
It is quite unfair to compare the older generation of Ugandan artistes with the new one through lifestyle or wealth lenses. The circumstances and dynamics of their times were worlds apart.
He shifted the focus to the music itself, saying the real comparison should centre on content, sound, and influence.
A fair debate should be about content, lyricism, the sound, and the inspiration they put out because that is what becomes timeless.
Looking at past icons, Calvin referenced Elly Wamala, Maddox Ssemanda Ssematimba, and Paul Kafeero, noting that their impact could have been even greater with today’s platforms.
He extended the argument to global hip hop, saying comparisons between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. and modern stars like Drake based on wealth miss the point.
For him, the real measure of an artiste remains influence and creativity, not money.
