A Pass questions lyrics in Waden Kartel’s song, calls for industry gatekeeping

What the report says

Ugandan singer A Pass has raised concerns about the lyrics in young musician Waden Kartel’s song "Kikubye Akawuzi," saying that while the boy appears talented, some of the material does not suit his age. According to Sqoop Uganda, A Pass argued that the country’s music scene needs stronger oversight to protect young artists from being pushed into adult themes before they are ready to handle them.

He questioned why a child with potential would be allowed to release a song with lines he felt should have been reviewed by parents or more experienced industry figures. A Pass said the issue was not the youngster’s ability, but the lack of guidance around what young performers sing and how they are presented to listeners. He also pointed to parts of the song in which mature voices answer the child, saying this creates an uncomfortable adult-child dynamic.

To illustrate his point, A Pass referred to international pop star Justin Bieber, saying his early work reflected his age rather than trying to make him sound grown-up. He said Uganda needs more producers, studio owners and other gatekeepers who can flag lyrics that should be edited before release. He added that, if he were mentoring young artists, he would review their lyrics and ask for changes where necessary.