Ugandan singer Elijah Kitaka has raised fresh concerns about the direction of the country’s music industry, arguing that the growing obsession with social media platforms such as TikTok is taking musicians away from the studio.
According to Kitaka, many artistes are increasingly investing more time in online conversations, short-form content and social media trends than in writing, recording and developing quality music.
The singer believes this shift has contributed to the decline in the vibrancy of Uganda’s music industry, which he says can only regain its strength if artistes refocus on their craft.
Kitaka urged musicians to spend more time creating meaningful and competitive music rather than relying heavily on social media attention.
He stressed that while digital platforms remain important tools for promoting music and connecting with fans, they should not replace the actual creative process that builds an artiste’s career.
His comments come amid a growing debate about the current state of Uganda’s music industry, with several artistes and industry players recently questioning whether the sector has lost some of its former momentum.
For Kitaka, the solution is simple: musicians need to return to the studio, sharpen their creativity and prioritise music itself.
“We need to go back to doing music and uplifting the industry,” Kitaka said.
HIGHLIGHTS
– Elijah Kitaka believes social media is distracting artistes from making music.
– He says musicians are spending too much time talking and creating online content.
– TikTok and other digital platforms should support music rather than replace the creative process.
– Kitaka has called on artistes to return to the studio and focus on quality.
– He believes a renewed focus on music could help uplift Uganda’s entertainment industry.
TAKEAWAY
Elijah Kitaka’s message is not necessarily against TikTok or social media, but rather against allowing online popularity to become more important than the music itself. As the industry continues to embrace the digital era, his call is for artistes to strike a better balance between promoting their work online and actually creating music worth promoting.
