Profile: Blackman Dragon, the young musician hoping to make his mark with ‘Bestii’

Ssekiranda Andrew, known in music circles as Blackman Dragon, is taking his first steps in Uganda’s music industry with a sound influenced by Afrobeat and dancehall.

Born on June 15, 2008, Blackman Dragon grew up in Nsaggu and attended Kisozi High School. He began his music career in 2026, releasing his first extended play (EP), Bestii, as he sought to establish himself as an emerging artist.

His journey into music has not been without difficulties. He says he faced prolonged criticism from peers who felt his earlier songs were not well organised. He also struggled to take his previous recordings to a studio, limiting his ability to present his work as he wanted.

Those experiences helped push him towards making Bestii. The project marked a fresh start, giving him an opportunity to put together music that better reflected his ambitions.

Finding his footing,Blackman Dragon is entering an industry where new artists must compete for attention while trying to meet the costs of recording and promotion.

Releasing music can introduce an artist to listeners, but building a career requires consistency, a recognisable sound and ways to reach a wider audience.

For him, money remains one of the biggest obstacles. He says he currently has no management to help organise his career or connect him to new opportunities.

“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. His appeal reflects the practical difficulties of pursuing music without financial backing.

Studio time, promotion and access to audiences all require resources, and emerging artists may struggle to cover those costs before their music begins generating income.

What comes next?

With Bestii, Blackman Dragon has moved from struggling to record his earlier songs to releasing his first EP. He now faces the task of building an audience and developing his music beyond the initial project.

Afrobeat and dancehall provide the foundation for his sound, but the challenge will be to establish an identity that listeners can recognise and follow.

At this stage, his career remains at an early point. Whether Bestii will bring wider recognition is uncertain, but the release gives him a starting point from which to improve his craft and pursue the management and resources he believes he needs.

For Blackman Dragon, the ambition is to rise in music. The work ahead will be turning that ambition into a sustainable career.