[A younger Senté; restless formative years captured in still above]
Where to start, eh? Answering the question of “who are you” can be a very existential experience but I will attempt to be as thorough and concise as I can be (as a well-known and self-identified yapper, brevity can be a bit of a challenge lmaooo). But Communal Fandoms is supposed to be about consuming more than just the art, right? It’s supposed to be a chance for all the “gentle readers” to consume the artist as well – the person behind some of your favourite (hopefully) or soon-to-be favourite musical creations.
My name is Kyle Senteza Kanyerezi – professionally, you guys know me as Senté. Behind the persona that I wear when creating my art there is a 24-year-old teenage boy from Kampala who is relishing the opportunity he has been afforded to live out his dream of being a superstar musician and, in the process of doing so, hopes to inspire a lot of other people to be bold enough to turn their dreams into a reality as well. [Earliest of the early years depicted in still below]
Perhaps let us start there – hopefulness. I don’t think you ever take the leap of faith to do anything worth doing in spite of any challenges, trials and tribulations that may come your way without being hopeful that you will be able to overcome and succeed regardless. Some would use the word “idealistic,” others would say “ambitious.” Detractors might even say I’m “delusional.” However, my delusion is firmly based in an earned confidence in my own abilities, an unshakeable spirit of optimism and the faith that good things will come to those who are deserving – if so many terrible people can receive good fortune in their endeavours, surely there’s some positive karma coming for the rest of us, right? Lmaooo.
I am reminded of my childhood – back when the world was full of endless possibilities and I could be whatever I wanted to be when I grew up. I used to watch the X-Games on ESPN and say I wanted to ride motocross when I was about 7 or 8 years old. My mum remembers it differently, however, and alleges that I used to want to ride boda-bodas when I grew up. Much to her dismay, they still remain my preferred mode of transportation throughout Kampala because I hate sitting in traffic – I like to get to and from my destination as quickly as I possibly can. There’s that idealistic nature rearing it’s head again lmaooo. Some equate this idealism with childishness and to them, I say: Hell yeah!
I think so much of the world expects you to lose those qualities that make you unique and special as a child. They expect you to “grow up” and be a bit more “realistic” with your expectations. But who ever said optimism and realism were mutually exclusive? Who said that the possibilities that seemed so limitless when we were children are, all of a sudden, so limited when you cross into adulthood? As a child your imagination is free to run wild and explore all that is (and sometimes isn’t) possible in this great big world of ours. Why should that imaginative nature have an expiration date? Why should we stop “playing around” and having fun in the sandbox that is life where we can create the reality we want for ourselves?
I would argue that we need to be stubborn and defiant enough to keep dreaming that bigger and better is indeed still possible, regardless of where we are in life. Granted, our means may be limited if we operate as individuals but no man exists as an island and the “apes” together are strong enough to achieve great things. Even the greatest of apes rely on community to achieve all their glory and success – what great emperor existed without a great army to support them, for example?
I, who has been a lover of music for as long as I can remember, am no different than any great emperor. I might not have the divine right to rule over lands as far as the eye can see but I do have a calling that I must answer to. I have the gift of creativity and musical inclination that demands to be shared with the world and, to those who are called to listen, music is meant to inspire. Music moves people towards action – as simple as dancing/bobbing your head, or as complex as revolution. Action as vulnerable and personal as crying to an emotional song, or as unifying and binding as an anthem that is sung by a chorus of thousands.
My army is modest in size, as I have just started gathering it. Hopefully, it continues to grow as I do. But, one thing is for certain, though – I hope the people in the army (the Gold Diggers, as I like to call them) keep their dreams alive. I hope they are stubborn enough to stay childish in their pursuit of wonder. I hope they are ambitious enough to dream big and have enough delusional resolve to chase those dreams fearlessly. And most importantly, I hope they enjoy themselves along the way to their great successes. My goal is to soundtrack that journey – both mine and yours, dear gentle reader – to the best of my ability. I hope you like the music and I hope you enjoyed my written yapp-age! Hopefully, you understand the man behind the music a little bit more now.
