Ugandan hip-hop artiste Sylvester Kabombo is taking his music a notch higher by incorporating personal merchandise to enhance his personal brand.

Kabombo’s self-made clothing brand, Ziva Muntuuyo, is now a big feature in all his concerts and album launches.

“I am the link between my merchandise and music because I have used my brand as a musician to market my clothes. I broke into the music scene way before I started doing the merchandise, so I have used my network of friends and fans to push the clothing business. Most of my early clients when I branched out into clothing in 2012 are my friends and fans,” he says.

In all his live performances, Kabombo is dressed in his branded merchandise either advertising his new song or old material. He says linking his music with his clothing merchandise, is all about branding himself.

Ziva Muntuuyo has now become popular among urbane young Ugandans.

Kabombo says he sources T-shirts, caps and sweatshirts from suppliers in Uganda and then brands them with his designs and prints.

“My clothing merchandise was inspired by my song titled Ziva Muntuuyo [meaning “hard earned or earning through sweat” in Luganda] off the album by the same title.

“Basically, I created the clothing line to push my brand as Sylvester Kabombo, which was embraced by my fans both in Uganda and abroad.”

“I consider my gear as souvenir items for visitors to Uganda or Africa in general. Due to the growth in demand, I currently have an outlet at Inc. Wear Shop situated at the Hotel Equatorial Mall, Bombo Road in Kampala, where most of my items can be purchased.”

Kabombo, a youth mentor, currently works for the Bayimba Cultural Foundation as the hip-hop co-ordinator for the Youths and Hip-Hop Project. He has mentored up-and-coming Ugandan rappers such as Easy Moze, Solo 2012 and Arch Brainz, among others.

He observes that the hip-hop scene in no longer confined to Kampala where the majority of musicians ply their trade, adding, “There is also hip-hop in regions outside Kampala. For example the Youth and Hip-hop Project that I run, has held workshops in 11 districts, reaching out to young aspiring artistes in the remote areas that don’t have access to some of these things and also encouraging them to pass on the knowledge to their friends. That’s how communities get empowered.”

Kabombo is also one half of the rap duo Sylvester and Abramz, early rappers who played a vital role in the growth of the local hip-hop scene in the late 1990s. The duo have performed extensively at home, in Zanzibar and in Denmark.  

His early songs as a solo artist include Baako Nekyokolawo and Mufumbiro. His song The Last Resort features on the World Wide Rap Album 2010 Compilation by the German artist LM NZ.

Ziva Muntuuyo, released in 2014, is his first album as a solo artist. It has tracks like Omulya Mamba, Twagalane, Ziva Muntuuyo, Weyise Bulungi, Akaseera, Night Patrol, Bitabuse and Power.

Born on April 9, 1981 in Kampala, Kabombo was orphaned at the age of nine and says, “The biggest challenge that I faced growing up as an orphan is the stigma from some friends and relatives. Many people don’t find it productive associating with you — the day your parents die is the day you’re shunned.”

He has two brothers and a sister. He credits his success to creativity and consistency. “I have achieved a lot as a rapper but I am still hungry for more,” he says.