Edrisah Musuuza, popularly known to the world as Eddy Kenzo, subscribes to the surprising truth of resilience, talent, and hard work, which paid off recently by his appointment to take a big job as senior presidential adviser on creatives by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.
Kenzo was born on 25 December 25, 1989, in Masaka, Uganda. At a young age, he had a rather rough start in life when he lost his mother at the age of four or five, and he consequently spent most of his days as a juvenile eking out a hard-to-live existence on the streets of Masaka and the capital, Kampala. Even while growing up, Kenzo never gave up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer. By the time he was aged nine, his talents had been noticed by a camp of the Masaka Local Council FC, and through it, he obtained a sports bursary at Lubiri Secondary School in Kampala. His love of music could not hold his passion captive, so he left formal education.
Kenzo started in music officially in 2008 with the release of his first song, “Yannimba,” in collaboration with Mikie Wine. Nonetheless, it was in 2010, with the single “Stamina,” that he really made his mark in Uganda. He gained international recognition in 2014 with his hit single “Sitya Loss,” which he released and appeared with the Ghetto Kids—Uganda’s triplets—in the music video.
Besides his performance, Kenzo is a mentor to most of the artists he has built, mentored, and produced on his platform, such as Rema Namakula and Pia Pounds. He is, indeed, a big icon in shaping Uganda’s music landscape.
In 2022, Kenzo would make history as the first nominated Grammy Ugandan musician, based in Uganda. His collaboration with American singer, Matt B in the song “Gimme Love” was nominated in the Best Global Performance category, further building on his legacy as a Ugandan music fork-breaker.
Throughout his career, Kenzo has won many accolades, including the BET Award for “Viewer’s Choice Best New International Artist” in June 2015, making him the very first East African to win this prestigious award. A remix featuring Nigeria’s Niniola was later featured in the movie soundtrack of “Queen of Katwe” of 2016.
Kenzo is also a father of three: Maya Musuuza (for Tracy Nabatanzi), Aamal Musuuza (for Rema Namakula), and a son through his fiancée, Phiona Nyamotoro. The lady is also the Female National Youth Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development in-charge of Minerals.
While Kenzo continues to push the envelope musically and with public service, his story is one shining beacon of hope for what can come even from the most trying circumstances.
