Singer Rema Namakula has sparked a conversation about language, confidence and the pressure to sound “foreign”, urging Ugandans to embrace the English they are comfortable speaking rather than forcing accents they cannot naturally carry.
Speaking during a TikTok Live, the singer argued that language should not become a barrier to authenticity, especially for Ugandan musicians hoping to reach audiences beyond the country.
Rema’s comments came as she reflected on the challenges artists face when attempting to make music that can travel internationally. According to her, mastering English goes beyond simply knowing the language; exposure, education and interaction with people from different backgrounds can influence how naturally one communicates.
“If you are not educated enough or well-travelled or get to know how people speak English, that English that can be understood by other people, when we speak our English, it’s not nice to hear,” she said.
She added that the challenge becomes even more noticeable when artists sing in English, where pronunciation and delivery can determine whether a song connects with listeners who are unfamiliar with Ugandan speech patterns.
Her concern, however, was not that Ugandans should abandon their local identity in pursuit of international acceptance. Instead, Rema appeared to be warning against what she described as the tendency to manufacture accents in an attempt to sound more Western.
Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop