To be like Kitaka, you must learn the art of staying humble even when the whole world is shouting your name. This guy is so humble, it is almost suspicious. ILLUSTRATION/CHRISOGON ATUKWASIZE
Elijah Kitaka is not your average Ugandan artiste. He is a singer, drummer, songwriter, producer, fashion icon, and walking contradiction. He is also the man behind those legendary Kitaka shorts, those intentionally-too-short shorts that make you wonder, is he trying to start a fashion revolution or just forgot to finish dressing? Either way, he has drip and confidence for days.
Let’s rewind a bit
Kitaka was not always the rebel-genius-rockstar we see today. Once upon a time, he was just a humble church boy – emphasis on was. Born and raised in a deeply religious household, Kitaka is a certified PK (Pastor’s Kid). And not just any kind of PK. His dad was not your usual neighbourhood house fellowship kind of pastor or Kampala street preacher no, no. This man was among the founding disciples of Pastor Robert Kayanja’s Miracle Centre Cathedral (we bet you did not know that).
Currently a lead pastor with a Miracle Centre Church of his own. That is elite-level pastoral energy. Kitaka grew up where speaking in tongues was more common than speaking in English. From a young age, music was a staple in the Kitaka household. Naturally, little Elijah gravitated toward the drums. At a single digit age, he was already behind the drum kit at church. But the church did not just give him rhythm, it gave him rules. Lots of them.
Something that must have irritated Elijah. Everything seemed like a sin. Watching cartoons? Evil. Wearing skinny jeans? Devil’s work. Asking questions? Blasphemy. Kitaka, being the curious cat he is, started poking holes in all these “holy” teachings.
And let’s just say, when you grow up seeing what really goes on behind the pulpit, it becomes very hard to keep saying Amen with a straight face. He remembers how the pastors would demonise dreadlocks and tattoos, only for foreign pastors to be hosted in the same churches with dreads and tattoos.
According to Kitaka, his parents were not thrilled. He did not just leave the church, he ran so far into music and fashion, he basically became everything they used to pray against. But hey, every family needs that one black sheep who makes the family group chat interesting. Despite his spiritual exit, Kitaka did not abandon music.
Quite the opposite. He went deeper. He started out as a drummer-for-hire and worked with Kampala’s top-tier bands; Janzi Band and Qwela Band though it was mostly on one-night stands basis in the music world. He has also played for some big names such as Maurice Kirya, Kaz Kasozi, and Limit X. All the while, Kitaka was absorbing everything like a musical sponge; the stage presence, the artistry, the audience vibes.
Slowly but surely, he transitioned from being the guy behind the drums to the guy behind the mic. It turns out, Kitaka could really sing. And we are not talking karaoke-night vocals. We are talking silky-smooth, genre-defying, put-you-in-your-feels kind of singing. Today, we talk about what you need to do if you want to be like Elijah Kitaka.
Elijah Kitaka
Be unpredictable
If you want to be like Elijah Kitaka, first things first, forget being predictable. That word does not exist in his vocabulary. Man moves like a power blackout in Kampala, you never know when it is coming, but when it hits, it hits. Kitaka is a walking plot twist. Just when you think you have figured him out, he drops a new sound, a new outfit, or a whole new child.
During his Tusker Converse Sessions, man casually told the nation he has three kids with one baby mama and had his first child at 19. Ugandans everywhere clutched their pearls. But that is Kitaka for you. Musically? Eh! Even Spotify and Apple Music are confused. From Dawa to Ekyange, his sound is so unique the apps are just like let’s categorise this as “Afro-something’ and move on. His sound is Uganda meets outer space raw, soulful, and not easy to box. When we talk about fashion. Kitaka does not just dress, he starts conversations.
And sometimes arguments. From those iconic tiny shorts that caused chaos on Twitter, to custom fits that look like a mix between downtown Owino and Paris Fashion Week his looks are loud, proud, and very Kitaka. Some people dress to impress. Kitaka dresses to express and maybe confuse all your ssengas, the self-proclaimed custodians of culture at family gatherings. There is a heart behind the chaos. Kitakaa’s fashion roots go way back. His mother is a seamstress, and growing up, young Kitaka was sketching outfit designs in his schoolbooks instead of paying attention in class.
Man wanted to be a fashion designer before the music even started. If things had gone differently, maybe you would be wearing Kitaka jeans right now. Actually, we heard he is dropping a clothing line soon, so start saving. To Kitaka, fashion is freedom. So, if you want to be like Kitaka,get clothes that start conversations. Like, now.
Be humble
Now, do not let the loud fashion fool you. Behind the tiny shorts, shiny nails, and experimental hairstyles, Kitaka is one of the humblest souls you will ever meet. A true definition of mukakamu. He might look like he is about to start a revolution on the runway, but deep down, he is as grounded as a boda guy with a flat tyre. He credits it all to his upbringing. Raised in a deeply religious home, humility was basically served with all meals. If you are going to be like Kitaka, you must learn the art of staying humble even when the whole world is shouting your name. Kitaka is so humble, it is almost suspicious. The kind of humble person where, after doing bad manners you know, creative stuff like controversial music videos, he actually calls his girlfriend to confess before the video drops. Imagine that. A whole rockstar reporting himself like he is applying for forgiveness in advance. Who does that? But that is Kitaka. Loud on stage, calm in spirit. Bold in fashion, soft at heart. To be like him, you have got to master the balance between madness and manners and always remember to stay human.
Think ahead
When it comes to music, Elijah Kitaka is not just thinking about Kampala, or even Uganda, man is cooking for the whole continent. So, when someone says, but he sings too much English or his sound is too niche, just know they are probably not the target audience. And that is okay. Not every plate of food is meant for every stomach. If it is not making sense to you, you can always stick to your Enkuudi and Embuuzi playlists in peace. Kitaka is building sounds with export quality. He is not here to do what is trending ,he is here to set the trend. His eyes are on the global stage, but his feet are still firmly planted in Ugandan soil. That is why you will find him reworking old-school kadongo kamu tunes and giving them new life, modernising them without losing their soul. And guess what? It works. Somehow, it always works.This guy is not just making music for now, he has been making music for 10 years from now. So, if you want to be like Kitaka, think long term. Future-proof your moves. Do not just make noise, make timeless noise.
