AP
You’ve just won a (possibly rigged) election – what’s next? How about cutting a rap album?
As he campaigned around Uganda the past few months, Yoweri Museveni showed he was in touch with the youth by performing folk chants behind the podium. “These young people taught me about this ‘rap’,” he told reporters. “Well, I can even give you some rap myself.” He rattled off ancient poems including “Naatema akati” (I cut a stick) and “Mp’enkoni” (Give me the stick). Such interesting lyrics, NewsFeed presumes.
(More on TIME.com: Hear Muslim punk rock music.)
But that was all it took. Local music producers spun the recordings of his performances and set them to hip-hop and dance beats. Before long, the svelte baritone voice of Museveni was blasting through speakers in clubs and heard on radio stations around the country.
The rhyme-spitting ruler is now considering dropping a full rap album. “I was very happy with the reaction of the youth because that means they are very thirsty for the music of their ancestors,” he said. Though if the 67-year-old prez is looking for more smash hits, he might want to branch out on his subject matter. Folk tales aren’t exactly what the kids want to hear these days.
(More on TIME.com: See — and hear — the sounds of salsa in Cuba.)
If he does release a record, it’s possible that Museveni will soon go from top of the polls to the top of the pops. And secretly NewsFeed is hoping this trend of politician-turned-musician will catch on. Can you even imagine Obama taking the stage at Lollapalooza?