Ugandan minister threatens to jail seven year-old rapper
Uganda’s Youth Minister has warned an aspiring artist to shelve his showbiz ambition and instead concentrate on studies.
Youth Minister Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi told the BBC that the country’s labour laws outlaw people under the age of 18 from work.
She also warned that the seven year-old rapper, popularly known as Fresh Kid, will end up in a juvenile prison should he continue pursuing music.
The minister expressed concern that Fresh Kid, real name Patrick Ssenyonjo, has been missing school.
Fresh kid seemed to address his critics in his latest hit track, titled ‘Banteka’, where he raps in a mixture of Luganda language and slang about people gossiping about him not going to school.
“They underrate me because of my age, I hear what you are gossiping about; asking ‘will he study?”
“Losers are weeping, calling out to their mothers, if you are afraid of me, get me cash. I’m the judge, I do not discriminate. Even if you are from the stone age. I will floor you.”
His manager insists the boy has been going to school.
“I discovered him in a rural village miming some songs, brought him to the city and started paying his school fees,” he said.