“Amin Dada” by Swangz All Star. Who is this song for?

Readers and fellow lovers of Ugandan music, if you are reading this it’s safe to say that you have more than the average listener’s interest in Ugandan music. And the subject of my few words today is cultural relevance, especially when it comes to creating music that speaks to “the audience” you are making it for.

Let me tell you something (and feel free to imagine it in the voice of that iconic “Indian guy bungee jumping” meme): if you mute the endless analysis of CNN and YouTube political experts and think about why Donald Trump resonated with voters as he did, one undeniable factor that stands out is cultural relevance.

Trump understood his audience clearly without hype. He spoke directly to their concerns and anxieties, covering issues from immigration to taxation – a stance that felt authentic to them. He didn’t adopt the polished “presidential” expectations, he instead presented himself in a raw, unfiltered manner. Americans gravitated towards him because they felt he “got” them. This authenticity translated into overwhelming support.

Now, Swangz Avenue. A juggernaut in the Ugandan music scene.

This week, they released their much-anticipated album, Swangz Avenue Presents: Swangz All Star, Vol.1. After the amazing Instagram pics from their coastal co-creation, we were hyped. There’s much to dissect across the entire project, but i would like to draw your attention to track one: “Amin Dada,” featuring Azawi, Vinka, and Elijah Kitaka.

The track opens with a snippet of a speech from Idi Amin Dada which was an impressive and daring homage. It’s a bold nod to history, a choice that immediately catches your attention. Idi Amin is a controversial mystery, a legend and for Harry Porter fans – “He Who Must Not Be Named” for the varying ways Ugandans feel about him.

But then, the beat drops. And it’s Amapiano. Huh! A South African music genre?

Why?

It’s trendy. Undeniably cool and globally recognized as a rising African export. Swangz Avenue with their industry knowledge, of course, clearly know this. Amapiano is global and aligning with it can exponentially catapult the reach of the song and the album as a whole.

But here’s the question: Who is this song for?

Well, hopefully the continent and the world and not necessarily Ugandans only. If it’s intended for a global audience, then I understand the Amapiano appeal. But back to the Trump example; these are top Ugandan artists, from the Top Ugandan record label, on an album track intro titled “Amin Dada” with a sound bite from President Idi Amin Dada? The cultural reference is distinctly Ugandan. It’s unmistakable. So, who is the audience again?

Swangz Avenue to the world. But if the idea is unmistakably to sell the Ugandan culture, then why lean into Amapiano, a genre that isn’t ours?

Verdict.

While many creative choices behind this song are admirable, it’s hard not to feel like something vital was left out. Imagine if the track sampled the legendary Afrigo Band instead. That choice alone could have infused the song with an authenticity that thoroughly resonates with Ugandan audiences or even the Global one at that.

Artists like Navio have succeeded in paying homage to Ugandan culture, celebrating it in ways that feel both respectful and true. Swangz should have studied these examples, drawn from these executions and delivered something unique that is not struggling with an identity crisis.

No doubt the song will make ground and potentially even be a hit, but i’m not convinced that it adds anything to our musical cultural catalogue. To go viral or make a hit, must we give up the cultural nuances that give our music depth. This is the same dilemma the Democrats faced in that infamous election. They lost touch with the grassroots.

In a world overflowing with information, a world where cultures constantly mix and mingle, we are at a stage of human evolution where we crave something genuine. We seek to rediscover our identity and heritage. We hope that creators learn to serve us not just the “cool,” but the deeply authentic. If you choose to go this direction, capture the warm essence of our heritage first, then find a way to meet global trends.

God rest his giant soul, but I suspect that Idi Amin himself would not have appreciated the cultural dilution done here. And we, the Ugandan fans, the audience (if we are), who understand the power of cultural nuance certainly feel the same. If you’re going to touch on the soul of a culture, get it absolutely right or simply leave it alone.