Bien says his Uganda music remarks were taken out of context

What the report says

Kenyan singer Bien-Aimé Baraza, the former frontman of Sauti Sol, has responded to criticism over remarks he made about Uganda’s music industry, saying the comments were being shared without the full context. According to Sqoop Uganda, Bien posted on social media to explain that he did not intend to insult Ugandan artists or dismiss the industry’s progress.

The backlash followed clips from a recent podcast interview that circulated online. In his response, Bien said the shortened snippets did not reflect the wider conversation and accused some blogs of using selective quotes to support a divisive interpretation. He specifically rejected claims that he had suggested Ugandan musicians were content with only serving the local market.

Bien also pointed to his past collaborations with Ugandan artists as evidence of respect for the country’s music scene. He mentioned working with Joshua Baraka and touring Europe with him, saying his record of collaboration showed his support for Ugandan talent. He ended by thanking people who watched the full interview and restating his respect for Uganda’s music fraternity.

The dispute highlights how quickly podcast remarks can be amplified on social media and reshaped through short clips. For artists working across East Africa, such exchanges can affect public perception even when the original intent is contested.