09/26/2025
How Fans and Politicians End Up Ruining Artistes’ Brands
By:Williams
Across the world, music has always been a powerful tool of expression, healing, and resistance. Yet behind the glamour of stardom lies a dark truth: many artistes, especially in genres like hip hop, rap, dancehall, reggae, and ragga, have been ruined not just by their own choices but also by the blind loyalty of fans and the manipulative grip of political regimes. What begins as a journey of creativity often ends in tragedy, scandal, or even death.
The Rise and Fall of Untouchable Stars
At the peak of their fame, artistes often cultivate an aura of untouchability. Fans worship them, overlooking faults, crimes, and misconduct. This blind fanfare inflates egos, feeding arrogance and pride. In turn, many artistes build entourages of young followers, treating them as both protection and proof of dominance. Sadly, this cycle often pushes them deeper into violence, unchecked behavior, and destructive lifestyles.
In Africa, and particularly Uganda, the situation has become alarming. Reports of artistes assaulting fans, failing to honor shows, abusing drugs, and even facing murder allegations are no longer shocking. Yet investigations rarely go far, leaving victims without justice. The result is a culture of impunity that shields stars rather than holding them accountable.
When Dictatorships Weaponize Art
Governments—especially dictatorial regimes—have perfected the art of using musicians for propaganda. Instead of nurturing their creativity, they exploit artistes as mouthpieces to attack opposition voices. Once these stars are used and discarded, many spiral into depression, self-destruction, and substance abuse. The state, of course, remains silent, having already squeezed political mileage out of them.
This dangerous partnership has left a trail of wasted talent. Instead of art thriving as a platform of hope and truth, it has been reduced to a weapon of manipulation.
The Role of Fans in Fueling Destruction
Fans, too, are guilty. Instead of demanding accountability, they defend their idols blindly, excusing violence, dishonesty, and misconduct as “persecution” or “jealousy.” By praising reckless behavior, they enable artistes to dig their own graves. Every street fight, every broken contract, every drug scandal is brushed aside as if talent should excuse toxicity. But when these stars finally fall—whether to addiction, crime, or premature death—the same fans cry foul, forgetting the role they played in cheering on the madness.
A Call for Responsibility
Uganda’s music industry is being eaten alive by impunity. We have artistes who openly fight in public, attack fellow musicians, terrorize promoters, and yet face no consequences. Security agencies and music associations turn a blind eye, either out of fear, corruption, or complicity. Meanwhile, the government shields certain artistes as long as they remain politically useful.
But this cannot continue forever. To the artistes who consider themselves “untouchable”—beware. History has shown that arrogance and violence do not end well. Many before you walked the same path and did not survive it. Karma, as always, will knock.
Time for Fans and Leaders to Wake Up
Fans must stop enabling toxic behavior. True support means holding your icons accountable, not cheering them into the grave. Politicians must stop using music as toilet paper—discarding artistes after exploiting their influence. And the music bodies—The FEDERATION ,the Uganda Musicians Association, Audio Producers, Songwriters, and the rest—must rise above lip service and actually defend the integrity of art.
Because if nothing changes, Ugandan music risks losing more than just talent. It risks losing its soul.
Am Williams-
