Legendary singer Hajjat Sophie Nantongo has reminded everyone just how far Uganda’s music industry has come—especially for women—and the role she proudly played in shaping that journey.
Speaking during a press conference ahead of her highly anticipated concert on May 2, 2025, at Serena Hotel, the Super Love hitmaker looked back on an era when women were barely given space to thrive in music.
Sophie made it clear: the industry wasn’t always this open. It took blood, sweat, and tears from her and a few other trailblazers to change the narrative.
"To all the ladies, I want to thank you so much for joining the music industry. For the women here, we fought so hard to penetrate the industry and beat the men. The industry was male-dominated. We did our job and fought so hard," she shared.
At a time when female artists were a rarity, Sophie and her peers were not only making music—they were rewriting the rules, setting standards, and pushing through barriers many thought were unbreakable.
Today’s growing number of female stars owe part of their success to that early fight.
Sophie didn’t just open doors; she kicked them down—and she’s encouraging the new generation to walk even further.
"I want to encourage my fellow women—you can even do better than me. Because we paved the way for you. Stay focused on what you want to achieve, you can still make it," she added.
While some might categorize her early music as “local,” Sophie stood firm on its lasting impact. She emphasized that conquering the local market is the true foundation for greatness, and that's exactly what their music did—touch hearts across generations.
"You may call it 'local,' but for you to become a star, you must first win at home. Our music is from the heart, and that's why it stays," she said.
