"Bodyguards don't make you a star" - Eddy Kenzo says

Big talent boss Edirisa Musuza, known professionally as Eddy Kenzo has expressed his views on the growing trend of celebrities hiring bodyguards. 

He firmly believes that having security personnel does not determine one's status as a star. 

While many individuals in the entertainment industry associate the presence of bodyguards with fame and success, Kenzo argues that true stardom is innate and cannot be manufactured through external means.

In a recent television interview with Sanyuka Tv,Kenzo boldly stated:

"Having bodyguards doesn't mean you're a star. Stars are born but not made."

Kenzo, renowned for his chart-topping songs and international recognition, emphasizes that genuine talent and charisma are the qualities that truly make someone a star, not the entourage that surrounds them.

This statement from Kenzo has come at a time when more and more celebrities in Uganda and across the globe are opting to employ bodyguards. 

Here in Uganda, artists like Spice Diana, Alien Skin and Fik Gaza are known for moving around with body guards. 

In one of the interviews, Diana explained that she hired bodyguards to protect her was a branding move as she was so tired of being disrespected and being treated like a No Body yet she is a star.

She also went ahead to explain and gave different examples of different celebrities like Diamond Platnumz and Harmonize who move with a full band and bodyguards for their own safety even when in their own countries.

Eddy Kenzo's statement has sparked a discussion about the genuine nature of fame and the challenges faced by celebrities in maintaining their public image.

Meanwhile in the ghetto, there is ongoing trend of young artistes walking around with gangs which are usually referred to as Egaali.

Recently, Bucha Man, a musician and advocate for the ghetto, revealed that bodyguards, sometimes referred to as gangs have always existed in the ghetto, but the way they are organized has significantly changed in the present era.

According to Bucha Man, during that time, there were three prominent gangs known as Firebase crew, Leone Island, and Gagamel. 

However, he pointed out that their gang activities were not widely publicized on social media and rarely made headlines, which is in stark contrast to the current situation. In the past, disputes were resolved privately, which provided a safer environment.

When asked about his perspective on the current rise of bodyguards, the renowned musician Mesach Ssemakula expressed his strong opposition to such gangs.

 He emphasized that he has witnessed the detrimental effects they have on young people, to the extent that some even lose their lives due to gang involvement.