Ssekiranda Andrew, popularly known as Blackman Dragon, began his music career in 2026 with a project he hopes will help him establish his place in Uganda’s music industry.
Born on June 15, 2008, the young musician grew up in Nsaggu and attended Kisozi High School. His first extended play (EP), Bestii, brings together Afrobeat and dancehall, the styles he is using as he starts building his musical identity.
The decision to release the project came after a period of criticism from his peers. Blackman Dragon says people around him had repeatedly complained that his earlier music was not well organised. He also struggled to get his previous songs recorded in a studio.
Those experiences became part of what pushed him to work on Bestii. Rather than continue with the same difficulties, he decided to put together a project that could introduce his music to listeners.
But releasing an EP is only one part of starting a music career. An artist must also find ways to record new material, promote it and reach people who may not know his name.
For Blackman Dragon, finances remain a major obstacle. He says he does not have management and has largely had to pursue his musical ambitions without the support of a professional team.
“I have faced the challenge of funds in my musical journey, but if I get management, I can do well and reach the top,” he says.
Management could help him organise his work and identify opportunities, but finding the right support is only one of the challenges facing a new artist. He will also need to keep developing his sound and give listeners reasons to follow his music beyond his first release.
For now, Bestii represents a starting point for Blackman Dragon. The young musician has moved from struggling to record his earlier songs to releasing his first EP. His next task is to build on that effort and turn his ambition into steady progress.
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