TAKEAWAYS

• Ang3lina tells Ugandan artists to stop playing it safe and start experimenting if they want global fame.
• Joshua Baraka joined legends like Burna Boy on Apple Music’s top African songs list, sparking huge hope.
• The diva slammed local production for sounding stale and stuck in the past during her recent comeback.

Uganda and UK-based songbird Ang3lina has challenged Uganda’s music industry to embrace musical diversity and explore different sounds if more local artists are to break into the international music market.

The songstress made the remarks while appearing on NTV Uganda’s The Beat, where she was asked to reflect on Joshua Baraka’s inclusion in Apple Music’s 50 Best Songs of the Year: Africa to the World list, which features some of the continent’s biggest musical names alongside international stars.

Joshua Baraka’s inclusion places him in the same conversation as artists such as Davido, Asake, Burna Boy, Chris Brown and Shakira, marking a significant moment for Uganda’s growing music industry.

Reflecting on what the recognition means for the local industry, Ang3lina said Baraka’s achievement should inspire upcoming musicians by showing them that international recognition is within reach.

“I think the first point would be that Joshua being on that list can give other artists, especially the young artists that may look up to Joshua, a possibility. So that’s the most positive,” she said.

However, beyond celebrating Baraka’s achievement, Ang3lina believes Uganda’s music industry must confront some of the limitations holding back its wider international growth.

Having taken an almost four-year break from music, the singer said returning to the industry made her realise that the country’s musical sound had not evolved as much as it should have, particularly when it comes to production and experimentation.

“I think we’ve still failed to branch out in terms of our sound. I took a big break from music almost four years and now coming back, I feel like the beats are still the same. They still sound the same,” Ang3lina observed.

She argued that producers and artists need to become more willing to experiment with different musical styles rather than repeatedly relying on familiar production patterns.

According to the singer, one of Uganda’s biggest challenges is that much of the music being produced locally is primarily designed for the domestic audience, limiting its potential to travel beyond the country’s borders.

“The willingness to just explore different sounds so that we can eventually hit the international market as well. Because the music, most of the music that is created in Uganda, I think is just for Uganda and not for the world. And I think that’s like our biggest problem,” she added.

Angelina’s remarks highlight a broader conversation about Uganda’s international music ambitions, particularly the need for greater experimentation, production diversity and music that can connect with audiences beyond the country’s borders.