Allan Tonis talks Ugandan music problems

A tendency by Ugandan music consumers to hype and support foreign artists over indigenous musicians, he says, is at the core of Uganda’s music predicament.

"I think there is a big mindset problem…maybe we have a bit of self-hate,” said Toniks whose real name is Allan Ampaire.

The talented singer and songwriter during a recent interview, gave an example of Nigerian teenage songstress, Qing Madi, who had a successful concert at Lugogo early this month.

Qing Madi on Stage pulse uganda

This was Madi’s first-ever concert.

Self hate?

Toniks wondered how the youngster, little known in her own country could fill up the Zoe Grounds, on the same night that singer and rapper Gravity Omutujju had just dozens showing up at his concert in the same vicinity.

“How can this girl, who cannot even do a bar show in her own country, come here and get more people than a musician who has been here for all these years?” he wondered.

“I think there is a big problem with Ugandans; either they are programmed or it's in the culture to like foreign things better than our own.”

Allan Toniks pulse uganda

Toniks illustrated the challenge with another example of a music producer friend of his, who feels embarrassed by his own country when he travels abroad.

“This guy, when he is out there and is asked where he is from, he always says he is from Kenya because he fears that if he mentions Uganda and they check what music is trending there, they might downgrade his abilities.”

Tonics also warns of the dropping quality of Ugandan music.

His says this is largely due to social media which has replaced radio and TV stations, which used to have strict control over the quality of music that made it to the public.