Singer and songwriter Asha Naava Zziwa, popularly known as Naava Grey, says the values instilled in her by her late parents have helped her stay away from public feuds and conflicts in Uganda’s music industry.
The “Ninga Omuloge” singer explained that she was raised to remain calm when disagreements arise, resolve problems privately and avoid turning personal disputes into public spectacles.
“First of all, I commend my parents. May God rest their souls in peace. They taught us to be quiet about everything and handle things privately,” Naava Grey said.
She added that her parents also taught her to carry herself with dignity, particularly during difficult situations.
“You don’t need to go out in public and display it there. Carry yourself with respect because we hold so much value as human beings,” she said.
According to Naava Grey, those lessons have remained part of her personality as an adult and have influenced how she conducts herself as an artiste.
Her upbringing, she explained, was centred on peace, discipline and calmness—qualities she believes can determine how people respond when disagreements arise.
“You find people doing certain things, but I don’t blame them because sometimes it is the way they were brought up. My childhood foundation was really good. It’s all about peace and calmness,” she said.
That same preference for privacy extends to her romantic life.
Naava Grey clarified that a white man she had previously been linked to publicly was not her lover, despite speculation. According to the singer, he was simply a fellow musician from Berlin whom she worked with on a music video.
“Even my lover is private. Everything of mine is private. The white guy the public claimed to be my lover was not my lover. He was just a fellow musician. He was coming from Berlin and I used the opportunity to shoot a video with him,” she explained.
Naava Grey also used the conversation to encourage parents to reconsider some aspects of modern parenting, arguing that traditional approaches can still offer valuable lessons in raising children.
She suggested that changes in parenting styles have, in some cases, contributed to children becoming involved in behaviours she believes they should not be engaging in.
For Naava Grey, the lessons she received at home remain central to how she navigates both her personal life and career. Rather than taking disagreements to the public, she believes in keeping her composure, protecting her privacy and dealing with problems away from the spotlight.