Kenyan singer and former Sauti Sol frontman Bien-Aimé Baraza has broken his silence following the backlash sparked by his recent comments about Uganda’s music industry, insisting that his views were taken out of context.
The award-winning musician took to social media to clarify that his intention was never to belittle Ugandan artists or undermine the country’s music industry.
“A few comments I made on a recent podcast are being shared without the full context,” Bien wrote.
Ug Music Is Big To Only Ugandans. — Kenya’s Bien Trashes Uganda’s Music Industry
#JikonkoneRewind pic.twitter.com/cn750ullli
— Galaxy TV Jikonkone (@GalaxyTVUg) July 29, 2026
He explained that the viral snippets circulating online did not accurately represent the broader conversation during the interview.
“I want to be clear: my intention was to share my perspective, not to disrespect Ugandan music or the artists who continue to shape and grow it,” he added.
Bien also accused some blogs of selectively quoting his remarks to fit what he described as a divisive narrative.
Responding to a post by Galaxy FM Uganda, he questioned where he had ever claimed that Ugandan artists were “comfortable serving the local market” at the expense of international growth.
“This statement is false. At what point did I speak of Ugandan artists as comfortable serving the local market and that coming at a cost? The video is there. Telling half-truths to suit your divisive narrative,” he wrote.
The singer further pointed to his long-standing collaborations with Ugandan musicians as evidence of his admiration for the country’s music industry.
According to Bien, his relationship with Ugandan artists dates back several years, including touring Europe with Joshua Baraka before the latter’s collaboration with a Kenyan artist and working with him on one of his breakthrough songs.
“My track record in collaborating with Ugandans speaks for itself. I toured Europe with Joshua Baraka even before he toured with a Kenyan artist. I collaborated with him on his first breakout single,” he stated.
Bien concluded by thanking those who had taken time to watch the full podcast instead of relying on short clips, reiterating his respect for Uganda’s music fraternity.
“If you’ve only seen the blogs or short clips, they don’t reflect the full conversation. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to listen to what I actually said. Much love and respect to the music community.”
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