# GNL Zamba

GNL Zamba, born Ernest Nsimbi, (29 January 1986) is a Ugandan hip hop artist who is credited with bringing rap and Lugaflow, a style of music to mainstream radio and other media in Uganda.
His stage name, GNL, is short for "Greatness with No Limits". He is the founder and CEO of the independent hip hop record label Baboon Forest Entertainment, which nurtures new talent in Kampala, Uganda. He is also an actor, filmmaker, and ambassador for Ugandan brands and social initiatives.

## Early life and education

GNL was born on 29 January 1986 in Mukono. His father was an electrical technician and his mother worked for Uganda Transport Company. The family later moved to Kawempe, in Kampala after the Ugandan Civil War. in his secondary school, he was chairman of junior literature club, member of the debating team and head writer of the Kiira Mirror.
He later joined Makerere University where he graduated with honours with Bachelors in Environmental Management.

## Career
### 2005–2010

In 2005, GNL started his journey in the entertainment industry in Uganda when he was part of the Hip Hop Canvas which was a project organised by Platinum Entertainment's Shadrak Kuteesa, aiming to empower the youth to express themselves. In this project he, together with other artists recorded the award winning song, Mother Africa.
In 2007, he made his debut in the Ugandan musical scene with the song, Soda Jinjale, which is a play on the drink, Soda & Ginger Ale. The song propelled GNL from an underground emcee to a renowned Hip Hop artist bringing a new sound to the genre, that he called Lugaflow (Luganda Flow).
In February 2009, he performed at the WAPI British Council Initiative and later that month at the Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar. In April, he performed at the Selam International Music Festival in Ethiopia. In June, GNL performed at the Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Rwanda and in August, he performed his first concert with the release of his album, Koyi Koyi, comprising eight number one singles which was praised for bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary sound. In September, GNL performed at the Dubai Concerts in the United Arab Emirates and in October, he performed at the Stratford Rex, East London in the United Kingdom.
In September 2010, he performed at the 'We Love Africa Music Festival' in Denmark.

### 2011–2020

In November 2011, GNL returned to United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Concerts and also performed at the 23rd UNAA convention.
In September 2012, he performed at the Selam African Music Festival in Sweden and at GNL Zamba Live in Norway.
In April 2014, GNL had VIP concerts in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in South Africa.
GNL then relocated to United States
In April 2016, GNL got his first acting career role alongside Darren Lee Campbell
GNL became one of the radio hosts of Coke Studio Radio Hour, which was a program that was part of Coke Studio Africa in August 2017.
In June 2019, his works were nominated at the 17th Independent Music Awards in New York City. These were Best Debut Album (Nsimbi), Best World Beat Song (Leo Ni Leo), Best Narrative Music Video (Dunia Ni Matenbezi) and Best Spoken Word (Acholi Boy). Leo Ni Leo won the Best World Beat song.
In February 2020, he held a lecture in the history of Hip Hop to the music students of Kyambogo University. In July of the same year, GNL, through his record label, Baboon Forest Entertainment, created the "Dear Hip Hop" challenge whose objective was to empower youth through the arts. The eventual winner was Ivan Kaweesa.

### 2021–present

In February 2021, GNL returned to Uganda from the USA and in December, he performed in the third edition of the online Tusker Malt Conversessions.

## Music style

GNL provides his lyrics in both Luganda and English. He sings in urban Ugandan hip hop style called Lugaflow. Lugaflow is rap in Luganda, the indigenous language in Uganda's Central Region. Since the late 2000s, Lugaflow has inspired a new generation of Ugandan rappers to create popular music in their native language.
His musical style was influenced by poets Gil Scott-Heron and Mbuli, Afrocentric musical artists like Eddy Grant and Fela Kuti and hiphop stars like Jay-Z, Nas and Ice Cube.

## Social campaigns

GNL participated in Friend A Gorilla, an Oxfam-sponsored campaign about environmental education with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. His song "Story ya Luka" was selected by the Uganda Ministry of Health to headline a 2010 AIDS youth education campaign.
His video collaboration for "True Manhood" with Young Empowered And Healthy (YEAH) Uganda encouraged Ugandan youth to use condoms, and it won the People's Choice Digital Media Award at the 2011 International Entertainment Education Conference.
Over a three-year period, GNL worked with Buzz Teenies to tour Ugandan schools, offering youth mentorship, encouraging social unity and staying in school.
Since 2013, GNL has partnered with Reach A Hand Foundation Uganda to participate in a series of youth edutainment campaigns.
In 2014, the Twaweza Initiative awarded GNL for the positive social impact of his song "We Cry", which speaks about street violence and safe sex. He has been invited to lecture at Makerere University's College of Humanities on oral literature and ethnology.
In June 2020, GNL together with his wife Miriam Tamar, joined the George Floyd protests in the USA.

## Personal life

Through the success of his music career, GNL was able to open a sports bar and bought land around Uganda.
GNL Zamba wedded his wife, on 29 April 2018 at Cielo Farms Vineyard, Malibu, California. Together with his wife, who is also a musical artist, they formed a musical group called Nsimbi.
In 2020, Zamba and his wife decided to return to Uganda to settle. he has a new born baby

## Awards and nominations

| Award/organization | Year | Nominee/work | Category | Result |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2005 | | Best Hip Hop Single | Won |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2009 | GNL Zamba | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2009 | | Best Single | Nominated |
| Press Association Awards | 2009 | GNL Zamba | Artist of the year | Won |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2009 | | Best Hip hop single | Won |
| Kisima Awards, Kenya | 2010 | GNL Zamba | Best Hip Hop Artist | Nominated |
| Kisima Awards, Kenya | 2010 | | Best single | Nominated |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2010 | | Song of the year | Nominated |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2010 | | Best single | Nominated |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2010 | | Best Group | Nominated |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2010 | GNL Zamba | Best male artist | Nominated |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2010 | GNL Zamba | Artist of the year | Nominated |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2010 | GNL Zamba | Best hood rapper | Won |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2010 | | Best Hip Hop single | Won |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2011 | GNL Zamba | Artist of the year | Nominated |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2011 | GNL Zamba | Best male artist | Nominated |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2011 | | Best single | Nominated |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | 2011 | | Best Hip Hop single | Won |
| International Education Conference | 2011 | GNL Zamba | People's choice digital media | Won |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2011 | Baboon Forest | Hottest group | Won |
| Kandanke Awards | 2012 | GNL Zamba | Artist of the year | Nominated |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2012 | | Best Hip Hop single | Nominated |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2012 | GNL Zamba | Best male artist | Won |
| Kandanke Awards | 2013 | | Best Hip Hop single | Nominated |
| Kandanke Awards | 2013 | GNL Zamba | Best male artist | Nominated |
| Kandanke Awards | 2013 | GNL Zamba | Artist of the year | Nominated |
| Kadanke Awards | 2013 | | Best Hip Hop single | Won |
| Kadanke Awards | 2013 | | Best group | Won |
| Club Music Video Awards | 2013 | | Best male video of the year | Won |
| Club Music Video Awards | 2013 | | Video of the year | Won |
| Uganda Buzz Music Awards | 2013 | | Best group | Won |
| Rising Star Awards | 2014 | GNL Zamba | Best Hip Hop artist | Nominated |
| Hipipo Awards | 2014 | GNL Zamba | Best Hip Hop artist | Nominated |
| Zina Awards | 2014 | | Best Hip Hop single | Nominated |
| Twaweza | 2014 | GNL Zmba | Best Social Impact Through The Arts Award | Won |
| 256 Hip-Hop Awards | 2019 | | African rapper of the year | Won |
| Independent Music Awards | 2019 | Nsimbi | Best Debut Album | Nominated |
| Independent Music Awards | 2019 | Leo Ni Leo | Best World Beat Song | Won |
| Independent Music Awards | 2019 | Dunia Ni Matembezi | Best Narrative Music Video | Nominated |
| Independent Music Awards | 2019 | Acholi Boy | Best Spoken Word | Nominated |

## Discography

* Koyi Koyi (Riddles of Life), 2009
* Speaking Vernacular, 2011
* The Renaissance / Uganda Yaffe, 2013
* I Am Zamba / Ceazar, 2014
* Dreaming in Colour (in production 2016)
* The Spear (2020)