Diamond Oscar: Language Is Not a Barrier in Music

Former Goodlyfe singer Diamond Oscar, whose real name is Mbabali Oscar, believes that language is not a barrier when it comes to music.

Speaking on rapper GNL Zamba’s podcast, he emphasized that music is a universal language that connects people regardless of their background.

Oscar discussed why Ugandan music often struggles to gain international recognition, even in neighboring countries like Kenya and Tanzania.

He argued that the issue lies in the quality of production, not the language used.

A well-produced song, he said, can connect with listeners even if they do not understand the lyrics.

To illustrate this, he mentioned Uganda’s Pastor George Okudi, who won two Kora Awards in 2003 for his hit song “Wipolo,” sung in an indigenous language.

Oscar also cited the global success of “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, which, despite being mostly in Spanish, has accumulated over 8 billion views on YouTube.

The “Take It Easy” hitmaker concluded by stressing that the success of a song depends on how well it is made.

He believes that with good production, music can cross language barriers and connect with people all over the world, no matter where it comes from.