In Uganda, “connections” has become one of those words that seems to explain almost everything.
Need a job? People say you need connections. Want a service quickly? Someone will tell you to find the right person.
The same conversation has found its way into Uganda’s entertainment industry, especially when artists break into international markets.
Joshua Baraka and Eddy Kenzo, among others, have faced questions about the international relationships they have built, with some people wondering why those opportunities do not simply open doors for other Ugandan musicians.
Dauda Kavuma is now facing the same questions after the Ghetto Kids landed the biggest opportunity of their career.
The group recently performed alongside Shakira and Burna Boy during the first-ever Super Bowl-style FIFA World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium, giving Ugandan entertainment one of its biggest international moments.
So, how did they manage to pull it off?
Speaking on Daily Soup, the Ghetto Kids manager and founder said the key is positioning yourself.
About connections, all I can tell people is that it is all about positioning. You have just to position yourself.
He also addressed the idea that someone simply hands you a connection, saying people have to put themselves in a position to be noticed.
No one will just connect you out of the blue. It is upon you to position yourself.
The internet, according to Kavuma, has also changed how people can reach opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings.
The internent brought closer things that are far away from us. Use the internet to showcase what you do, and people will look for you.
And sometimes, he said, one person noticing your work can lead to many more opportunities.
You just one right person to seek you and they will lead you to others.< /em>