Elijah Kitaka on Music, Fashion, and Breaking Free from the Norm

"Breaking Free"

The song ‘Dawa’ has been dominating the airwaves since July, captivating audiences with its melodic and romantic pull. It has become the soundtrack for countless TikTok and Instagram reels, landed in the top ten on radio charts, and is in heavy rotation in nightclubs and social events alike.

Despite the rising fame, Elijah Kitaka, the Afropop star behind the song, remains grounded. He attributes his newfound success to humility and a deep sense of purpose. “I give all the glory and honor back to God,” he tells Satisfashion UG. Produced and written by renowned producer Daddy Andre, Dawa translates to “medicine” in Swahili, and the song’s emotional depth is a testament to Kitaka’s unique blend of jazz, reggae, ragga, and R&B—a fusion that has created one of the biggest hits of 2024.

Kitaka signed with Swangz Avenue, Uganda’s most prestigious record label, in early March 2023, becoming the label’s first male artist. Swangz Avenue had grand plans, and Kitaka’s trajectory suggests that the label’s dream of creating a global star is not far from reality.

However, his success is not the product of just a few months under Swangz Avenue. Kitaka’s musical journey began years earlier as a drummer for artists like Maurice Kirya and Kaz Kasozi during his university days. Touring with them across Africa, he found inspiration in their talent and humility. Reflecting on this time, he shares, “As a drummer, you’re always at the back of the stage, observing these artists at their best. It taught me a lot. I knew I could sing, but I wasn’t quite ready. Watching them helped me build my confidence.”

His love for music and art dates back to his school days at St. Lawrence Paris Palais, Namilyango SS, and Kisubi High School, before pursuing software engineering at Aptech Institute. But it was music that ultimately claimed his heart, and now, Kitaka has firmly established himself in the industry.

For Kitaka, music is more than just a profession—it’s a meditative practice. He is deeply involved in every stage of the creative process, drawing inspiration from everyday sounds, such as the tapping of his rings on a table. “It starts with my phone most times,” he explains. “I walk into the studio with no idea where I’m going or where I’ll end up, but once I start creating, the beat takes me places. It’s about connecting to the spirit of the moment.”

Beyond music, Kitaka’s creative expression is bold marked by his numerous piercings, tattoos, and eccentric fashion choices, which he styles himself. His signature short shorts have even sparked a TikTok fashion trend, aptly dubbed “Elijah Kitaka Shorts.” Reflecting on his passion for fashion, he says, “I would have pursued a career in fashion design if I had been allowed to do the course at university.”

For the accompanying photoshoot to this story, Kitaka arrived in a vibrant green outfit, with his growing freeform locs defying initial plans for the hairstylist to braid his hair into cornrows. He elaborates, “If I were a fashion designer, I think I would let people embrace exactly what I would put on the table. It’s so weird to look at people and then design for them. You’re supposed to design from yourself so that people can see the design and embrace it if they want.”

“Being yourself starts with being comfortable as a person before thinking about what the rest of the world thinks about you. For example, me and those controversial shorts go way back to my drummer days. It all started then,” he adds.

Throughout our conversation, themes of freedom and self-expression emerge. Growing up in a religious family and facing societal expectations, Elijah Kitaka has always sought to break free from norms. His two bangles, sourced from Bagamoyo—a town with a history of slavery—symbolize this freedom. “These bangles remind me of my freedom of mind,” he shares. “Growing up and trying to set myself free—it makes sense. Even with music, transitioning from drumming to singing was setting myself free. It was incredibly liberating.”

This October, Swangz Avenue’s collective, featuring a stellar lineup of artists, including Vinka, Winnie Nwagi, Azawi, Joshua Baraka, Zafarani, and Zagazillion, is set to release one of Uganda’s most anticipated music projects this year: the Swangz All-Star Album. With Kitaka being a part of not one but slew of successful projects, it is clear that his journey is only beginning.