Story By Jaco Waluluka
Lucky new media made Ugandan ‘talentless’ artists drunk on the limited ‘fame’ risk losing both their lives or face lengthy jail time over criminal offences. Most of these rookie ‘celebs’ whose fame almost lasts as long as a lazy yawn , emerged through Ticktock , YouTube among other social media platforms in the COVID 19 lock down period.
This new crop includes: comedians, short skit actors, political clowns and commentators, new music word smiths like; Alien Skin, Fik Gaza, among several others sailed on the ‘limited’ fame that apparently came with power.
Most of these breed with a past history of petty thuggery, fast forward found faithfuls in droves and thus formed formidable known in streetwise speak as ‘eggali’.
This ‘eggali’ was a loose but lethal outfit created by now jail bird Charles Olimi aka Sipapa , to snatch items like phones and hand bags from revelers at events in Kampala.
So infamous was Sipapa and his gang that prior to a show, he would be among the first to purchase a corporate ‘table’, this made him a darling of many unsuspecting established musicians and politicians .
From the petty thuggery, Sipapa, allegedly graduated into the serious world of burglary which eventually led to his current incarceration. During this same period talented singer, songwriter cum producer Sadat Mukiibi aka Khalifa Aganaga, also led his own ‘eggali’, though his was more inclined to drug abuse and behind the stage fights.
However, all hell broke loose when post COVID 19 lock down new media star Mulwana Patrick aka Alien Skin of the ‘party party’ song fame created his Fangone Forest outfit.
Fangone , was not a mere phone or bag snatching group but a fetish gangster outfit with commanders and a ‘wuuuuhu wuuuuhu’ code password for the ‘thuggery’ or ‘clobbering’ party to begin. Alien unlike Sipapa completely depended on his outfit to keep him roving as the main topic in the media when music ‘hits’ failed to come by.
Starting off as a simple victim of a slap thanks to Pallaso, Alien Skin , fast graduated into a don and a law unto himself. Former Fangone , member Shafik Dagota aka Fik Gaza, can attest to this, thanks to the altercation wrath he had with his former boss and his gang.
This new gangrism made the stunts fights between, Joseph Mayanja aka Chameleon’ Leone Island , Moses Ssali aka Bebe Cool’ Gagamel and Robert Kyagulanyi’s aka Bobi Wine’s Firebase seem like child’s play.
During that time Bobi wine, had the most feared and respected group with a ‘ war bus ‘ whose members silenced anyone that did not pay homage to their boss at any rendezvous they stopped.
Indeed , Bebe Cool , Bobi wine and yes Chameleon, have in the recent past warned these new ‘celebs ‘ of the ultimate consequences that they risk to pay.
It should be noted that also during this time a fight between crews led to the stabbing of Leon Island die hard Ras Thadius by rapper Rabadaba, an injury that allegedly later led to his demise. The Good Lyfe crew of the late Moses Radio and Weasel Manizo , was also a force to reckon with whist under the influence.
This new fetish gangsterism that the COVID 19 lock down, ‘celebs’ embraced has come back to haunt them and if not checked sooner than later will lead to their eventual downfall .
What is Gangsterism;
Gangsterism is the behavior and activities of gangsters, which are organized groups of criminals. It can also refer to the use of violence or intimidation to achieve something.
This was used in the United States to form gangsta rap, form of hip-hop music that became the genre’s dominant style in the 1990s, a reflection and product of the often violent lifestyle of American inner cities afflicted with poverty and the dangers of drug use and drug deal
Easy E was the Godfather,
Gangsta rappers include the likes of Tupac Shakur, Ice T, Snoop Dogg, DMX, 50 Cent and ( Niggers With Attitude) aka N.W.A.
Gangsta rappers who lost their lives to gangsterism;
Scott La Rock – 1987 Aug 27
Paul C – 1989 Jul 17
D-Boy Rodriguez – 1990 Oct 06
Charizma – 1993 Dec 16
Stretch – 1995 Nov 30
Seagram – 1996 Jul 31
Tupac Shakur – 1996 Sep 13
Yaki Kadafi – 1996 Nov 10
The Notorious B.I.G. – 1997 Mar 09
Fat Pat – 1998 Feb 03
Big L – 1999 Feb 15
Freaky Tah – 1999 Mar 28
Bugz – 1999 May 21
DJ Uncle Al – 2001 Sep 10
Jam Master Jay – 2002 Oct 30
Sabotage – 2003 Jan 24
Camoflauge – 2003 May 19
Half a Mill – 2003 Oct 24
Soulja Slim – 2003 Nov 26
Mac Dre – 2004 Nov 01
Blade Icewood – 2005 Apr 19
Proof – 2006 Apr 11
Big Hawk – 2006 May 01
VL Mike – 2008 Apr 20
Dolla – 2009 May 18
Magnolia Shorty – 2010 Dec 20
Bad News Brown – 2011 Feb 11
Lil Phat – 2012 Jun 07
MC Daleste – 2013 Jul 07
Pavlos Fyssas – 2013 Sep 18
Joshua Ribera – 2013 Sep 21
Doe B – 2013 Dec 28
The Jacka – 2015 Feb 02
Flabba – 2015 Mar 09
Chinx – 2015 May 17
Bankroll Fresh – 2016 Mar 04
Jimmy Wopo – 2018 Jun 18
Young Greatness – 2018 Oct 29
Feis Ecktuh – 2019 Jan 01
Kevin Fret – 2019 Jan 10
Nipsey Hussle – 2019 .
The above list affirms that there is a heavy price to pay if one doesn’t quit gangsterism.