Toniks cleared the path for Ray G and other western artistes – Kazoora – Sqoop

In the ever-evolving rhythm of Uganda’s music scene, credit is often a contested currency. But for music observer Kazoora, there’s no debate when it comes to the roots of modern Runyankore sound, which he credits to Allan Toniks.

Speaking with conviction, Kazoora recently stirred conversation when he suggested that today’s western Ugandan heavyweights like Ray G and Truth 256 are, in many ways, beneficiaries of a path first cleared by Toniks.

“He brought Runyankore,” Kazoora emphasized. “There would be no Ray G, there would be no Truth 256 because of Allan Toniks,” Kazoora said recently while introducing Toniks for a performance.

Long before Runyankore music found its current commercial appeal and youthful swagger, it largely existed in traditional spaces—deeply cultural, yes, but limited in reach. Enter Allan Toniks. Known for his smooth blend of R&B and Afro-pop, Toniks did something subtle yet revolutionary: he made Runyankore feel modern without stripping it of its soul.

However, before Toniks, there were artists like Lady Mariam Tindatine, Sister Charity, and John Katokye among others who were performing predominantly in Runyankore.