Children and youth minister Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi has moved to stop hip-hop sensation FreshKid from pursuing his music career.
FreshKid, a six year old with a gift of the gap, has becoming a media hit making controversial statements which has promoted his music to national charts. He is also booked for several shows, which overnight has fished FreshKid from bitting poverty, to a music icon.
However Nakiwala believes FreshKid should be in school, not on stage. If he wants to perform, the minister directed, he should do it in the confines of school or educational institutions, where he has responsible supervisors!
Nakiwala has therefore threatened to arrest anyone who trades with FreshKid, either as an agent or client, and warned that FreshKid could also be arrested and be kept in a juvenile remand home to help him reform, if he is to defy her directive.
However Nakiwala is being seen as insensitive. FreshKid himself says he was P.3 and was studying well.
Mukono municipality MP Betty Nambooze has blasted the minister saying, she should be preoccupied with Karimajong children and street children who are clearly not in school and need her attention, yet, she has done nothing.
Former Uganda Tourism Board marketing manager Edwin Muzahura advised, “Hon Minister, You can still have FreshKid sing and keep in school. That would make sense for the little boy to chase his dream while adding value for his future.”
Muzahura underscored the fact that FreshKid’s parents are poor and hardly can support him, yet he was hugely talented.
FreshKid isn’t the only talented child in the performing world. Baby Gloria, now a teenager, has managed her career to adolescence, among other child stars.
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