View Artist YouTube Channel
Nabattu Naira Ali was born to Mr. Ssesanga Ali and Mrs. Ssesanga Hawa, and her musical journey reflects her rich family background in music. Growing up, her father worked as a DJ at the “Chicago Boys” night club in Masindi district, while her mother led choirs at both church and school.
Being one of the younger children in her family, Naira Ali had the privilege of being spoon-fed and babysat, allowing her to indulge in watching television extensively. This exposure became a source of inspiration for her, sparking her interest in music. During her formative years, Naira Ali developed a liking for artists such as Celine Dion and Whitney Houston.
Despite the school’s rules against kindergarten students joining the choir, Naira Ali defied the norm and became the first kindergartener to join the school choir. She collaborated with her teacher, Alice, to write a song titled “Twatulanga” for the school choir, showcasing her early musical prowess.
Naira Ali’s musical inclination continued to flourish with her older brother’s aspirations to become a musician. He often wrote songs, using her as a demo singer for compositions sold to other musicians.
At the age of 14, Naira Ali recorded her first song, collaborating with Dove MC and producer Didi at True Vine Studios in 2001. The song received limited airplay on Monitor FM and Sanyu FM.
During her teenage years, Naira Ali navigated various interests, from aspiring to be a model, actress, painter, fashion designer, to a writer. Despite these diverse interests temporarily affecting her music career, she remained committed to her artistic endeavors.
Naira Ali’s involvement in the East High School entertainment club “Da Bliss Club” from 2001 to 2004 allowed her to hone her skills in writing, acting, and singing. In 2005, she successfully ran for entertainment prefect at Kibibi Secondary School, becoming the school’s first female entertainment prefect.
Her talents extended to acting, earning her the title of the best actress in the school’s music, dance, and drama festivals in 2006.
In 2006, Naira Ali gained managerial representation, which prompted her to take voice lessons and undergo professional training for singers. She participated in the 2009 Tusker Project Fame auditions and emerged as one of the top ten Ugandan finalists.
Naira Ali’s dedication to her craft garnered recognition, winning the Diva Music Awards for the best central and southern up-and-coming artist in 2009. The New Vision Verdict also named her the best new female artist.
Purplechord was the first music company to sign Naira Ali, and she asserted that her music transcends specific genres, encompassing R&B, jazzy band, afro fusion, pop, rock, techno, and world music.
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in industrial fine art, Naira Ali released her first album, “Sounds of Naira Ali,” featuring hits like “Tulo, Muntu Wange,” “Okikola Otya,” and “Sweetest Thing.” In May 2015, she hosted a sold-out concert titled “Sounds of Naira Ali.”
Continuing her success, Naira Ali released her second album, “I Am Naira Ali,” in December 2018, featuring songs like “Sikyalinda,” “Dalu” featuring Da Agent, and “So High.” She conducted successful tours in Uganda in 2017 and 2018 and embarked on a US tour called “I Am Naira Ali” in 2019.
In 2020, she began working on her third studio album, “Naira Ali,” aiming to define her sound and personality. The album includes tracks like “Kiriye,” “Voodoo,” and “Your Body.”
Naira Ali Songs
