TAKEAWAYS

• TNS singer Ava Peace slammed critics for constantly comparing her to the legendary Sheebah Karungi. Radio host Omulangira Ndausi sparked controversy by calling Ava Peace a failed project meant to replace Sheebah.
• Speaking to Frank Ntambi, Ava defended herself by noting Sheebah has been in the game since 2006 while she was just a kid.
• The young vocalist confirmed she holds no grudge against her idol, despite the constant online fan wars.

TNS singer Ava Peace has spoken out against the persistent comparisons between her and former Team No Sleep (TNS) singer Sheebah Karungi, saying she has nothing but love and respect for the veteran musician.

For the past few years, Ava Peace has faced criticism from fans and media personalities who have repeatedly compared her musical career to that of Sheebah, with some questioning whether she can successfully fill the gap left by the former TNS star.

The latest criticism came from veteran radio presenter Omulangira Ndausi, who described Ava Peace as a failed project by music promoter Jeff Kiwa in his alleged attempts to replace Sheebah.

However, speaking during an interview with Frank Ntambi, Ava Peace questioned the fairness of comparing her to someone who is significantly more experienced in both age and the music industry.

“It is not fair to compare me to someone who is my senior in years and in the music industry,” Ava Peace said.

The singer pointed out that Sheebah had already begun her musical journey with the Obsessions in 2006, when Ava was still in Primary One.

Ava, who has previously acknowledged Sheebah as one of her inspirations, said she grew up looking up to the Nakyuka singer and hoped to achieve similar success one day.

She added that she does not understand why she continues to receive insults and criticism over comparisons she believes are unnecessary.

In an attempt to establish whether she had done anything to provoke the backlash, Ava said she revisited some of her previous interviews to determine whether she had ever made disrespectful remarks about Sheebah.

However, she said she found nothing that suggested she had disrespected the veteran singer.

Ava Peace maintained that her admiration for Sheebah remains unchanged, dismissing any suggestion that she harbours ill feelings towards her predecessor at TNS.

The singer’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about the careers of female musicians in Uganda and the tendency among fans and commentators to measure emerging artistes against established stars.

For Ava Peace, however, her journey should be judged on its own merits rather than through comparisons with a musician whose career she has long admired.