Isaac Ssegawa, popularly known as Izo Izhuru , has walked away from a 24-year music journey that never produced the breakthrough he had hoped for, saying blunt advice from Lugaflow heavyweight GNL Zamba helped him make the decision.
Ssegawa, who started singing seriously while in Senior Two at Kisozi High School, had long dreamed of becoming a bilingual star in the mould of Jose Chameleone.
Kisozi was then a sister school of Buddo Senior Secondary School, where fees were about Shs70,000. Inspired by Chameleone’s ability to move between Luganda and Kiswahili, Ssegawa taught himself Kiswahili so he could perform in both languages.
At school, he went by the name Isaac Banton while nursing a crush.
The years that followed brought a succession of stage names. He became Isaac Musanyusa while performing in a band, adopted Sweet Kati after releasing a song of the same title, and later became Doctor Grapher when he began studying land management.
In total, Ssegawa says he went through about six names during his musical journey.
The names changed, but the breakthrough never came.
“I was in music for 24 years but a hit never came,” he says.
The advice that eventually made him reconsider his future in music came from people he respected.
GNL Zamba advised him to concentrate on his studies and consider music later. He also told Ssegawa that he had “no chair in Lugaflow”, a remark that stayed with him.
Jacob Omutuuze offered similar counsel.
Ssegawa says he had never allowed members of his family to talk him out of pursuing music. But advice from the two industry figures made him reconsider the path he had followed for more than two decades.
Today, the former singer works as a land manager, having exchanged the stage and recording studio for a profession he says offers a more stable future.
His journey offers a glimpse into the less celebrated side of Uganda’s music industry the experience of artists who spend years pursuing a breakthrough that never comes, and the difficult moment when they must decide whether to keep chasing the dream or build a life outside it.
The post GNL Zamba’s Advice Ends Izhuru’s 24-Year Music Dream: “You Have No Chair in Lugaflow” appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.