Kenyan singer-songwriter Bien-Aimé Baraza has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent remarks about Uganda’s music industry, saying his comments were taken out of context after short clips from his appearance on the Let the Cake Podcast went viral online.
The former Sauti Sol member came under criticism from several Ugandan artists and music lovers after excerpts from the interview circulated on social media.
In the clips, Bien praised Uganda’s music business model, saying it allows artists to thrive locally, but also suggested that the country’s sound does not evolve much beyond its borders. His remarks sparked debate, with artists including Pallaso and Mark Da Urban publicly responding.
In a statement shared on social media, Bien clarified that he never intended to disrespect Uganda’s music industry or its artists.
“A few comments I made on a recent podcast are being shared without the full context. 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 wrote.
He also urged fans to watch the complete interview instead of relying on short viral clips. “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,” Bien added, as the debate over his comments continues to generate discussion across East Africa’s music industry.