Humble Start for Kenzo, First Ugandan Nominated for Grammy

Eddy¹ Kenzo does not know exactly when he was born.

He lost his mother at the age of 4. He did not know his father. He spent most of his childhood living on the streets, not knowing how to read or write. He often worried about when, or if, his next meal would come.

From that humble² beginning, Kenzo has become the first Uganda-based singer to earn Grammy consideration. His recording³, Gimme Love, was nominated this month for a Grammy award for best international music performance. Kenzo shares the nomination⁴ with co-performer American Matt B.

Some Ugandans dismiss Kenzo's music, saying he is not much of a singer. Others see his musical experimentation⁵ as a sign of a gifted artist.

But, for Kenzo, any recognition of his work is a reminder⁶ of how far he has come.

"Honestly speaking, I am so overwhelmed. I am so nervous at the same time," Kenzo told The Associated Press. "I thank God that we made it."

In 2015, Kenzo, whose real name is Edirisa Musuuza, won a BET award as the viewers' choice for best new international artist. He was the first and only Ugandan so honored to date. The award followed the release of his song Sitya Loss, which became very popular. The linked music video features children dancing in a poor, rural town in central Uganda. The energetic performance captured international attention.

Growing up, Kenzo had wanted to become a soccer player. His skill won him financial support to attend a school. But he later dropped out and returned to the hustling⁷ that he says made him a man.

"I am a hustler," he told AP. "This is a very huge step for me, my family and the ghetto⁹ people, the hustlers, the people who come from nothing. It gives us a lot of hope that anything is possible."

Kenzo recorded his first single in 2008. He became famous in 2010 with the song Stamina¹⁰ which was praised for its youthful energy. And he has since been invited to perform across the world.

Three days before he found out that he had been nominated for a Grammy, Kenzo held a festival in Kampala that was attended by thousands, including Uganda's prime minister. It was a proud moment for a singer whose music is often ignored by local radio stations.

Andrew Kaggwa is an arts reporter with the local Daily Monitor newspaper. He described Kenzo as a mysterious person who "has disrupted the industry in ways no one can explain."

Kaggwa said Kenzo is the Ugandan singer "who refused to fail."

Those who control music on Uganda radio stations may dislike the singer's work, the reporter said. But, he added, Kenzo has a loyal following.

"For some reason, things happen" for Kenzo, Kaggwa said. "He just lets the awards, the accolades¹², speak for him."

The Recording Academy will announce all the award winners at the 2023 Grammy Awards ceremony on February 5.

Words in This Story

humble - adj. not better than other people

overwhelmed - adj. strongly affected¹³

hustle⁸ - v. to move quickly

ghetto - n. poor part of a city

festival - n. an organized series of performances

disrupt - v. to cause something unable to continue the normal way

accolade¹¹ - n. awards or expressions of praise

1 eddy   

n.漩涡，涡流

参考例句：

• The motor car disappeared in eddy of dust.汽车在一片扬尘的涡流中不见了。
• In Taylor's picture,the eddy is the basic element of turbulence.在泰勒的描述里，旋涡是湍流的基本要素。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 experimentation   

n.实验，试验，实验法

参考例句：

• Many people object to experimentation on animals.许多人反对用动物做实验。
• Study and analysis are likely to be far cheaper than experimentation.研究和分析的费用可能要比实验少得多。

6 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

7 hustling   

催促（hustle的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Our quartet was out hustling and we knew we stood good to take in a lot of change before the night was over. 我们的四重奏是明显地卖座的， 而且我们知道在天亮以前，我们有把握收入一大笔钱。
• Men in motors were hustling to pass one another in the hustling traffic. 开汽车的人在繁忙的交通中急急忙忙地互相超车。

8 hustle   

v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌)

参考例句：

• It seems that he enjoys the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.看起来他似乎很喜欢大城市的热闹繁忙的生活。
• I had to hustle through the crowded street.我不得不挤过拥挤的街道。

9 ghetto   

n.少数民族聚居区，贫民区

参考例句：

• Racism and crime still flourish in the ghetto.城市贫民区的种族主义和犯罪仍然十分猖獗。
• I saw that achievement as a possible pattern for the entire ghetto.我把获得的成就看作整个黑人区可以仿效的榜样。

10 stamina   

n.体力；精力；耐力

参考例句：

• I lacked the stamina to run the whole length of the race.我没有跑完全程的耐力。
• Giving up smoking had a magical effect on his stamina.戒烟神奇地增强了他的体力。

11 accolade   

n.推崇备至，赞扬

参考例句：

• Four restaurants have been awarded the highest accolade of a three-star rating.四家餐馆获授予三星级餐馆的最高荣誉称号。
• The Nobel prize has become the ultimate accolade in the sciences.诺贝尔奖已成为科学界的最高荣誉。

12 accolades   

n.（连结几行谱表的）连谱号( accolade的名词复数 )；嘉奖；（窗、门上方的）桃尖拱形线脚；册封爵士的仪式（用剑面在肩上轻拍一下）

参考例句：

• Unlike other accolades for literature which tend to value style or experimentation. 有别于其他偏重风格活实验性的文学奖项。 来自互联网
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

13 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。