Singer Karole Kasita has raised concerns about Uganda’s failure to establish a distinct musical identity, arguing that many local artistes rely on blending sounds from different music genres.
Speaking in an interview with a local television station, Kasita said Ugandan musicians often mix dancehall, Jamaican music, Afrobeats and other genres in a single beat, making it difficult to identify a sound that is uniquely Ugandan.
“We failed to have our own sound. We infuse dancehall, Jamaican, Afrobeats and so many others in one beat,” she said.
Kasita explained that Uganda would have a stronger musical identity if its sound became distinctive enough to influence musicians in other countries.
She cited Kidandali as an example of a local genre that could gain wider recognition if international artistes began adopting and reproducing its style.
“If our sound, like Kidandali, ever influences someone out there, like the whites, South Africans or Jamaicans, and they want to copy that sound, that means it would then become our thing. But right now, it doesn’t have someone it’s inspiring outside our country,” she added.
Her remarks highlight the ongoing debate about Uganda’s musical identity and whether local artistes can develop a signature sound that stands out internationally while retaining the country’s cultural influences.