GNL; The Legend of Zamba

“I’m blind to haters! I love the game and I am at the top. I love being at the top”

The influx of hip-hop in Uganda and Africa has led to the birth of  a horst of hip-hop artistes and all sorts of sub-genre of the hip-hop genre. Favorite of them all and probably basking in the “lime-est light” is the renown legend of Zamba popularly known as G.N.L- the king of luga flow. A calm but sophiscated G.N.L with a modest sense of humor and a pronounced sense of self righteousness boasts; “I gave hip-hop a soul” as he speaks about the “game” and his place in the “game” I mean hip-hop

Poetry and flow are fundamental recipes for the dish of hip hop. It will be so as it has been, yet in the greater past, poetry is something that has not been intrinsic, rather lacking, of many hip hop artistes in Uganda. Well, until the birth of the “legend of Zamba”. It is of such significant efficacy as it appeals even to the 6^th sense- your self conscious. Poetry, the chronological flow of a story has the power to capture the audience and it would be hard to escape. You flow along with the beat as the stanzas of the poem would follow each other as you do not want to lose grip of the thread.

This seems to have been the secret behind Uganda's sensational; GNL Zamba, a signee of platinum entertainment Aware of this fact, and needless to say, good at it (poetry), the latter seems to have ably turned it into his pot of gold from which he has continually mined the acclaimed allegiance and diligence of an unrivaled fan base ecstatic about the notion of lugaflow, the freshest genre in town.

One of East Africa's most influential artists, Gnl zamba was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda. he started professional music in 2007 after completion of his bachelors degree.
His break out hit was soda jinjale off the record breaking album koyi koyi/ riddles of life he has won numerous awards, including best male artist of the year BUZZ AWARDS,album of the year and 2 best hip hop singles PAM AWARDS.
Gnl has gained international exposure and recognition through performances on international ...

GNL can be said to be the patron and custodian of lugaflow, but how did the idea come up any way? “I felt there was a need to relate hip-hop to an African sense which the Africans could understand, that way, I hoped to address the problems of society with an African touch”. Says Zamba. “Hip-hop started in Africa and the Africans should be able to relate with it. It is unfortunate that in the past people have fallen in love with western music which they do not even understand. So it is our role as artistes to make people appreciate their own music and to me, luga flow was the best way of doing that”. He adds.

“The legend of Zamba” is a philosophical folk story in the African traditional setting. Zamba was born during time of “sowing” and has come all this way. So it is a story of his journey from the start-koikoi up to now. so it is my philosophy, the story of his life that he tells through music and it keeps him going on. His first album koyi koyi, he reveals was his time of “sowing”, the time of his debut entourage into the music industry and the later albums including the forth coming are, to him, more like the harvest; the reaps of his hard work, sacrifice and determination. That is the legend of Zamba.

A calm but sophisticated G.N.L with a modest sense of humor and a pronounced sense of self righteousness is of two character traits; off stage, he is quiet, shy and soft spoken, so he says. “when am off stage, i am a gentleman, i am GNL.” so he says! On stage, he is a beast, a monster, an animal. By his words, “That is Zamba-the ghetto guy”.

GNL, the self styled king of luga flow draws his inspiration from his mum. His attitude of having a positive conscious has also played a great deal in shaping him worthy of praise and following from his fans. He had however wanted to be a basket ball celebrity so probably he would be “shooting hoops”. if he were not doing music. On a normal day, GNL wakes up to say a prayer, after which ;he will check his gmail, facebook account to see if he has any messages and to reply any including those from his fans, he then call his manager from where the rest of the day follows in studio or prapring for shows. Over the weekend there is a lot to do for him, most cases, he will spend it doing shows or recording music, when he has the time, he will go out.

There is so much the icon, whose big break came after his single soda has achieved in the recent past but to him the love from the fans has been a great achievement. “Each time i get on stage and people show you the love- they scream, hug etc, that is a great achievement and such an inspiration because i know i am doing something, speaking to someone,” he says. Other wise he is the father of baboon forest entertainment which natures a lot of young talent.

For the future GNL plans the furtherance of his acting skills. In fact he is rumored to have featured in a recent movie although he reveals not the details as per contractual terms. (kglam will bring you the details soon)

he also plan to start a serious clothing line and music label under baboon forest entertainment. He is also working on his album called speaking vernacular after which he will take his game international with the forthcoming album called union of colors.

While it may seen to be a smooth sail for this star, he reveals to me that many huddles ripple the path of a hip hop artiste, the greatest being the stereo-type. When you do hip hop, many people mistake you to be a thug and forget that you are also a human being trying to make a living. Consequently, only love for what you do can keep you aloft in the game otherwise you will chicken out at the slightest blow from the media and other haters. He however is modest enough to agree that he is also there for the money; to make a living. Speaking of haters, GNL is only glad he inspires them and they motivate him!

To the hip hop fraternity, Zamba has given a soul and because of him, people can now listen to hip hop especially Lugaflow thanks to his poetic lyrics that are inspired by any thing that goes on around him and his own life experiences.

For the fans of GNL, of luga flow and hip hop, I leave you with this thread from one or two of his songs that should help you identify you “hero”; Banzalira mu ghetto, awatali mu?
GNL Zamba ndinga omwana Yesu Kristo ..GNL nze jena va, abana teba mbala ngato ..Enkuba wetonya, oku vayo obera wetaga lyato.....Eno ensi tulinga aba nyiga olwazi okulujamu amazi
Mpita mu Kampala ndaba banji ba tunula angazi