TAKEAWAYS

• Elijah Kitaka says Uganda’s music industry has declined.
• He blames excessive talking and social media focus among musicians.
• The singer urges artists to return to the studio and focus on their craft.

Swangz Avenue singer Elijah Kitaka has joined the growing conversation about the state of Uganda’s music industry, arguing that musicians are spending too much time talking and creating social media content instead of concentrating on their craft.

Speaking on NBS TV’s After 5, Kitaka acknowledged concerns that Uganda’s music industry has declined from the standards it was once known for. The Daily Bando singer believes one of the biggest problems is that some artists are no longer putting enough time into making and improving their music.

Kitaka pointed to the growing influence of TikTok and other social media platforms, saying musicians are increasingly focused on creating videos and interacting with fans rather than spending time in studios.

“Musicians are doing a lot of talking instead of spending time in the studio.”

He argued that artists need to rediscover the discipline that comes with developing their sound, writing better music and continuously improving their skills.

“We need to go back to doing music and uplifting the industry.”

His comments add to an ongoing debate among Ugandan musicians, producers and music fans about the direction of the local entertainment industry. While social media has created new opportunities for artists to promote their music and connect directly with audiences, critics say excessive focus on online trends can sometimes overshadow the actual music.

Kitaka’s remarks are therefore a call for artists to strike a better balance between digital promotion and the creative work that built Uganda’s music scene.