OK! What do you think about Fresh Kid? [The seven-year-old singer/rapper has been given a scholarship by Ruperelia foundation to study at Kampala Parents School for seven years.]

He is young and talented…his talent is special but he must be guided to achieve his dreams. He is so young!

Africa survives on talent; we don’t go to school to look for jobs. We go to make friends that can help you in survival. [Hmmm. School for networking now…] Fresh Kid should be guided when he is still young.

Moving on…would you consider yourself ‘upcoming’?

[Assertively] That’s not a title in music. Everything has a start. Even when you are building a house, you can’t say it is ‘upcoming’. [My upcoming house…hahahaha]

I get you. By the way, how many suits do you own?

[Laughs, thinks then shakes his head] Really?! I have four suits.

Yiiii! A whole celeb!

[Laughs] Yeah, when I go for functions, they just dress me; that’s it.

Add some; you too may soon join politics like many of your colleagues…

Hahahaha… It’s their choice and time. They have the freedom to do what they want.

Or they are musically faded…

Maybe some, or maybe they had a target to sing for sometime [then go into politics]. Maybe they had a dream. I can’t judge their decisions.

Omu Rasta, where do you shop from?

Eeeh! I don’t have a special place. Anywhere; even along the streets or roadsides.

Clearly you are joking!

OK, OK, OK. I have a friend called Latif Junior in Kawempe, who styles me. [That is more like it!]

I see you are in good spirits. Give me an a cappella sample.

[Laughs] I have many songs and I like them. [He finally agrees to sing and he transforms before my eyes, behaving like he is on stage, before a huge crowd. I’m humbled.]

That’s a new song. In June there will be an album called No Fear. The song I did is off the new album and should inspire many…especially because of the life I went through. My best hit is called Yes.

Sounds like it will be a bang! And what is your favourite food?

I don’t have any favourite food, so long as it is good; but I enjoy beef, rice, nyama mu chapatti [hahahaaa…nice way to describe a rolex, boss.]

Meanwhile, you can be so aggressive on stage! [Not in a bad way.]

When on stage you are that stage name – [Beenie Gunter] – and when you are not, you become your real name – [Baguma].

Oba you do weed?

No! That’s the perception the public has on musicians [yes, especially dancehall ones]. I think it is judgmental and unfair to us.

Now, let’s talk about love. Are you dating? 

Yes. I can’t be single. I have not been single ever since I was 16 years old. [At Quick Talk’s perplexed look:] It is the reality…when I don’t have a girlfriend, what do you expect me to sing about?

And who is this lucky girl?

Hmmm! The new rule is to keep her name far from people. Even your best friend can snatch her.

Hahaha! Okay, describe your ideal woman.

She must be around 28 and above [Hmmm…someone likes older women…], respectful, beautiful and prayerful.

Beauty is not physical appearance alone, you realize?

No! No! I look for both, and I don’t believe in inner beauty.

That is brutal…now, if there was one thing on your body that you could change…

What God gave me is enough.

But those tattoos are not God-given.

I have three and I’m yet to add… I know the pricks are painful but [there is] no pain without gain.

Background

  • Born Crescent Baguma in 1994 to Maj Gen John Waako and Margaret Nambi, Beenie Gunter has two sisters. He is the lastborn.
  • He attended Bombo Mixed primary school for PLE and St Mary’s SS Kitende for his UCE and UACE, before branching off to make music.
  • His songs include Pon Mi, Olina Work, Watto, Sekkle Down, and Giddem.

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