Zayra Baby Reveals Why Nigeria Beats Uganda in Music and Influence
Ugandan social media star Zayra Baby, whose real name is Desire Nandijja, recently returned from Nigeria and shared her thoughts on why their entertainment industry is leagues ahead of Uganda’s.
During a sit-down with Sheilah Price, she praised the work ethic of Nigerian influencers and entertainers.
They are so hardworking. Us in Uganda, we sometimes sleep on the job, me included. Influencers there do not sleep, and they make a lot of money. From not sleeping, they make a lot of money.
While some believe the difference is merely a matter of branding, Zayra Baby insists it goes much deeper.
There is you knowing what you want, and you value yourself, you value your energy, and you value the effort you put in. That is what happens in Nigeria. A musician cannot disrespect an influencer. Never.
She explained that mutual respect among all stakeholders in the industry is standard in Nigeria, something she finds lacking at home.
I had a friend who would tell me, ‘You need me, I need you. You have released a song and you need my support, and I also need your money. If you do not give me your money, someone else will. So, if I am big and I refuse to promote your song because you disrespected me, that means I will promote someone else’s song instead. And, you know, music has a lot of competition. That is why they respect each other. A musician respects an influencer.’
For Zayra Baby, Nigeria’s culture of respect, discipline, and hard work sets a high standard, one she hopes Uganda’s entertainment industry can eventually match.
