Elijah Kitaka, a notable Ugandan music producer and artist, has consistently challenged his peers in the Ugandan music industry to push beyond the local fame and strive for international recognition. In a candid interview, Kitaka highlighted what he believes to be the key obstacle preventing Ugandan music from crossing international boundaries: the mindset of many creatives in the country.
Kitaka points out that many Ugandan artists are content with their success on local platforms. “Some artists are comfortable with their music playing on local stations without the dream of being played elsewhere,” he said. According to Kitaka, this mentality of being satisfied with limited recognition has greatly hampered the industry’s ability to make a global impact. Ugandan musicians often fall into the trap of focusing on local audiences and forget that the world stage is much larger and more competitive.
Kitaka emphasizes the importance of breaking free from these mental barriers, stating that “for me, I want to go the furthest I can, even if it’s a nomination for an award.” Unlike his peers who may stop at achieving success in Uganda, Kitaka is determined to reach new heights by aiming for international fame.
Kitaka also raised concerns about the tendency of local artists to lose focus after experiencing a bit of success. He describes how some artists may release one hit song and become complacent, failing to put in the necessary work to continue growing their careers. “You see artists here get one hit song and start getting excited and don’t want to do anything extra,” he explains.
This complacency, he believes, is detrimental to the long-term growth of the artist and the industry as a whole. The success of one song should not be seen as the peak of an artist’s career but rather as a stepping stone toward greater accomplishments.
Kitaka also believes that Ugandan musicians need to invest more time and effort into refining their sound to appeal to international audiences. He stressed the need for more experimentation and innovation in music production to ensure that the songs resonate with global listeners. While local influences are important, Kitaka argues that musicians should not be afraid to step out of their comfort zones and evolve their music to match global trends.
Elijah Kitaka’s perspective serves as a wake-up call for Ugandan creatives. If the industry is to gain international recognition, artists must adopt a global mindset, remain focused on long-term success, and continuously refine their sound. Kitaka’s own journey is a testament to the power of ambition and the determination to make a name not just in Uganda, but across the world.