Winnie Nwagi, one of Uganda’s leading music stars, has opened up about the challenges she faces when collaborating with other artists. In a recent interview, Nwagi, known for her hits such as “Matala” and her recent collaboration with global superstar Shakiraa Shakira on the track “Nze Mpako,” revealed that she often deals with issues of ego and insecurity among some of her fellow musicians.
Nwagi explained that while she enjoys working with artists who have a genuine passion for music and a professional attitude, not all collaborations are smooth. “Some musicians bring unnecessary competition into the process, making it difficult to create a comfortable working environment,” she said.
The singer also mentioned how some artists, who seek collaborations, may display arrogance, which can create tension. “It’s hard when someone is seeking you out for a collabo but they are showing off,” Nwagi said. “Some even think you are going to steal the show from them.”
Despite these challenges, Nwagi found the perfect match in Shakira. Praising the Colombian singer for her down-to-earth, free-spirited nature, Nwagi shared that Shakira made the entire collaboration process seamless and enjoyable. “I like to work with a performer, a person like Shakira,” she stated.
Interestingly, despite her powerful stage presence, Nwagi revealed that she is actually quite introverted. She explained that her shy nature sometimes affects her interactions with other artists. “I don’t want to work with a person I am scared of because then I cannot correct them if we are doing something wrong,” she explained.
With “Nze Mpako” achieving significant success across streaming platforms, Nwagi’s willingness to find the right collaborators has undoubtedly paid off.