Many Ugandans may know him as the photographer who went viral a couple of years ago for shouting: ‘njagala vayibu! (give me vibe)’ as he tried to get the perfect shot. After years of travelling around and out of Uganda, he is set to showcase all the beauty his lens has captured through a photo exhibition.
Quick Talk caught up with him for a chat.
Who is Derrick Ssenyonyi?
I am a multifaceted visual artist, mainly doing photography and content creation. I believe many people know me because of my character, images and videos, the stories I tell and the trips I take with them. I am an influencer at the same time, where I push brands related to tourism and travel.
How did you get into photography?
I started as a street photographer at around 16 years old, where I used to take photos door-to-door. We would walk around with small printers and ask people if they would like to take photos which we would print out there and then and would be paid Shs 2,000 per photo.
How did you transition to travel photography?
First of all, I have done tonnes of jobs; I have been a porter at construction sites, car washer, sold clothes and shoes, and farming. I did so many different things but I think my passion lay in photography and this is because I was born and raised in Nakasongola, where I used to see tourists going to Murchison Falls national park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and they would have cameras. That used to ignite my curiosity and made me want to also one day go for a trip with a camera.
When I finished my senior six, I went and studied tourism and hospitality management at Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, which helped me understand the tourism products, language, trends and how the whole industry operates.
And you added influencing to that…
I added influencing to photography so I could tell the travel stories in a broader manner. My content and the brands I influence for mainly centre around travel and tourism and that is how I have distinguished myself.
I have even turned down money from brands because they don’t align with what I want to promote. I have been approached by condom brands and betting companies, among others, but rejected them because I want to market something I love and believe in.
Tell me about the photo exhibition this Friday
Yeah. I have a photo exhibition on September 20 at Kampala Serena hotel, which I am calling the “Timeless Frame Photo Exhibition’’.
I have been traveling this country for the last seven years and I had never gotten a chance to showcase what I have captured and I know it is every photographer’s dream to have a photo exhibition, especially self-made photographers. I believe Timeless Frames is going to inspire many photographers and also showcase the beauty of our country.
Besides your photos, is there anything more one should look out for at the exhibition?
It is an exhibition in form of a gala dinner with VIP experience. We shall have performances from various artistes and it will also be a networking event with lots of decision-makers and businesspeople in the tourism industry present. All the photos which are going to be exhibited will be up for sale through an auction.
What is the best picture you have taken so far?
It is a photo I took on top of Mountain Muhavura. In that picture, you can see Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), all in one frame and another mountain called Sabinyo found in DRC.
What is your favourite destination in Uganda?
Mountain Rwenzori; there is no doubt about that. It was the hardest for me to visit and hike but it is my favourite and I can’t wait to go back. I wish every Ugandan could visit it and get to fully appreciate Uganda’s beauty.
And your dream destination?
I think I have done everything in Uganda but right now as an adrenaline junkie, I want to go skydiving. I can’t imagine the feeling of flying and falling from the sky! It is among the top things I want to do next year. I want to just visit everywhere because I feel like life is too short to live in one place.
I want to travel as much as I can and expose myself to every culture, language and customs. If I marry and have children sometime, we shall be that family that really spends a lot on traveling.
How do you prepare for a trip?
Obviously my cameras first. Back then, I used to do long-term preparations but I now have a checklist and I be ticking whatever I pack. Back then, I used to pack clothes for every day I would be out there but right now I have branded T-shirts and I pack like three or four T-shirts and two trousers for an entire trip. I now prefer putting my whole attention to what I create while on the trip than being a designer on the trip.
What has been key in your success as a photographer?
My humility, energy, strategy and hard work. I am not a party animal and you will never find me in a bar till wee hours of the night; can you believe the first time I went to Lugogo Cricket Oval was recently during Ray G’s concert?
I am very intentional in whatever I do and I never do something without a reason, even if it is just a social media post or hanging out. I know what I want and I make short-term and long-term goals. I feel like according to what I want and the dreams I have, I am just starting [well, you are just 27; duh!]
You are always in company of foreign tourists; what is their impression of Uganda?
They say it is very beautiful; everyone reaches here and they are shocked. They are always shocked to find that this country is too packed for its size, because we have almost everything from culture and wildlife to food and natural scenery.
What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
I think it is the fact that I have been able to create a brand for myself and I have been able to inspire others. I have a lot of young people that follow me that have been inspired to not give up and keep on chasing their dreams.
I have also been able to travel to very many places and that is a big accomplishment for me because many people live and they only get to know their districts. You should ask me again about my accomplishments in three years from now, because I am just starting.
How does the future look like for you?
The future is very bright. I envision Ssenyonyi as a guy who is travelling with his wife and kids, because I want my kids to be exposed at a young age since I never got that chance.
I see myself traveling everywhere and I know the African continent is growing and in a few years it is going to need trusted content creators, informers and influencers that have a good track record of content creation. I know what I want, where I am going, and I am excited about the journey.
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