Coopy Bly

Coopy Bly is a multi award winning gospel artist from Kampala Uganda. Specializing in the genres of Reggae, Dancehall and Raga, the highly celebrated artist is known for hit songs such as Sidda Mukyalo, Nyweza, What a Love and Akikwasaganya.

Throughout his career, Coopy Bly has had the honour of collaborating with other big names within the gospel fraternity including Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Martin Sekku and Daddy Owen to name a few. Coopy Bly has also earned himself the privilege to perform on international stages, throughout Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia, sharing the stage with big names within the international gospel industry including Papa San, DA TRUTH, Isaac Blackman and Sho Baraka.

In 2016 Coopy Bly hosted one of the biggest local gospel concerts of his generation, dubbed Coopy Bly Live- One Last Time, where he debuted his recent 26 song album – What A Love, awarding him his most recent awards as ‘Male Artist of the Year 2016’, ‘Dancehall Artist of 2016’ and ‘Best Song of 2016 – Akikwasangya’.

Highly recognized as one of Uganda’s largest gospel exports of his generation, Coopy Bly also is founder/director of Youth Empowerment organisation Yimba Uganda, and also runs his own recording studio, Backyard Studios.

Coopy Bly was born Kusasira Edwin Sserwanga on December 5, 1988 to Patrick and Justine Buyinza. Together with his sister, the two of them were raised by their parents in a Christian family setting in Katwe, on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda. Coopy Bly’s musical talent was first exposed when he led campfire songs at his first scouting camp in his primary school days. He was then inspired to join the school choir for the last two years of primary school.

In 2003, after joining secondary school, Coopy Bly took advantage of both his parents working in the UK at the time to pursue his music dream, knowing very well they would not fully support his music alongside his academics. Using his savings from his pocket money and selling off his clothes his mother had sent him from London, Coopy Bly recorded his first song ‘Shiny money’ from Dream Studios. He returned to school the following term excited and eager to have his friends listen to his song. In the same year, 2005, Coopy recorded his 3rd song ‘Glorify’ which was quite popular for the following 2 years, giving him the chance to perform at gospel shows with big gospel artists of the time, including one of his role models, Martin Sseku.

Coopy Bly then recorded the reggae song ‘Ghetto Love’, and with it shot his first music video in 2006. ‘Ghetto Love’ managed to get good airplay in EATV, East Africa’s premier music television channel. By 2010, Coopy Bly had recorded more than 9 songs. In the same year, Coopy Bly released ‘Bwaka’, a song hitting at homosexuality and other vices in society, reminding people that judgment day is near. ‘Bwaka’ was a massive hit and was considered by many as his breakout song, getting a lot of radio airplay and accumulating TV and Radio appearances for Coopy Bly. Coopy Bly went ahead and released other hit songs such as ‘Kulunga’ and ’Kumbaya’.

In 2011 Coopy Bly released hit song called ‘Nyweza’ which got him nominated for several awards including Olive Gospel Awards, Buzz Teenies Awards and Groove Awards in Kenya. The music video of Nyweza became so popular that it crossed over to secular music circles, making Coopy Bly recognised throughout East Africa. On the 6th of May, Coopy Bly launched his album at Watoto Central in Kampala, performing a number of live songs, including number one hit ‘Sidda Mukyalo’ to the full house that were in attendance. In 2012 Coopy Bly toured around Europe performing in a number of schools, churches and public shows throughout Germany and The Netherlands. After his tour he was nominated for a number of awards in the ‘Olive Gospel Awards’ and was crowned ‘Best Male Artist of the Year 2012’.

In February 2013, Coopy Bly released the music video of ‘Sidda Mukyalo’, which got massive airplay and a positive response throughout East Africa. This cemented his status as an indomitable artist lyricist in East Africa, and he was nominated as ‘Best Male Artist- East Africa’ in the ‘Africa Gospel Awards’ held in the UK. In 2013 Coopy Bly released hit songs including Anjagala, Genau, I Do, Nawe and Lwokano. He also had the opportunity to perform on the same stage with International Artists including Sho Baraka, Benjah, Kris Erroh, Pompi, Mag44 and Daddy Owen.

Coopy Bly topped off his year by founding Non Government Organisation, Yimba Uganda, which focuses on youth empowerment through Vocational Training, Female Menstrual Hygiene Management, Music mentorship and promoting sustainable livelihoods for widows and single mothers in rural Uganda.

In 2014 Coopy Bly set time aside from his music and studied a Discipleship Training course with YWAM International in Jinja. His time spent in bible school was a spiritually enriching, educational experience, allowing him to grow and groom himself as a minister of God. In July, Coopy Bly was invited to Australia for three months and performed in schools, churches, public shows and festivals. Whilst in Australia, Coopy Bly released his hit single Guruka, which was highly appreciated by the Australian public due to it’s danceable beat. He also had the opportunity to work with Australian videographers and filmed music video ‘Beautiful God’. 2015 also saw hit songs Kilo, Onsalangako, Muve Mundolo and Fire released including videos for both Onsolangako and Muve Mundolo.

Coopy Bly took 2015 by storm, starting off the year in Vietnam, Asia filming music video Nkulembera Mukama. The rest of the year Coopy Bly continued to invest into his music career, releasing songs Yesu Byakola, Kulukutta and one of his biggest hits to date, What A Love. In June, Coopy Bly collaborated with award winning Kenyan videographer, J Blessing and filmed the music video for What a Love. While recording the video, Coopy Bly proposed to his long-time girlfriend Anne-Marie on set. The video received massive airplay on gospel and secular stations and received the title of ‘Video of The Year – Viga Awards 2015’. Coopy Bly also received the award of ‘Reggae Artist of the Year – Viga Awards 2015’. Coopy Bly finished off the year in style; performing as an international guest artist at Groove Party in Kenya.

In 2016, Coopy Bly continued his rise in the music industry, being nominated in numerous awards including BUZZ Teeniez Awards, Groove Awards and finally taking the title as ‘Male Artist of the Year 2016 Hit Awards’. Coopy Bly was also provided with the honour of presenting at the Kenyan Groove Awards, where he was also nominated in the category of ‘East African Artist of the Year’. Upon return from tour in Australia, Coopy Bly went on to unveiled his biggest project to date, by launching his own recording studio ‘Backyard Studios’ where he has gone on to produce and record all of his recent music. In September, Coopy Bly hosted one of the Uganda’s biggest local gospel concerts, dubbed ‘Coopy Bly Live – One Last Time’. During the concert he released his latest album ‘What a Love’ which had a record number of 26 songs, including Kidula, Batusinza Ki and Akikwasaganya.

The concert was a huge success pulling large crowds, and ensuring Coopy Bly’s titles as ‘Male Artist of the year’, ‘Dancehall Artist of the Year’ and ‘Gospel Song of the Year – Akikwasanganya’ in the 2016 VIGA Music Awards. Coopy Bly finished the year with a colourful wedding surrounded by family and friends in Kampala.

Coopy Bly bought in 2017 performing at Groove Party in Kenya. He has since continued to take the gospel industry by storm being nominated for numerous awards including ‘East African Artist of the Year’ in ‘The Africa Gospel Music Awards’ based in London and recently ‘Gospel Artist of the Year’ in the ‘TUMA Music Awards, for his hit song ‘One Body’ where he collaborated with gospel legend, Pastor Wilson Bugembe. When asked what else the celebrated artist has in store for his fans in 2017, he has promised his fans more good music and investing in music videos.