Uganda’s Navio set to release new album ‘Power’

Speaking recently to Nigeria’s Sound City TV, the artist said he is busy finalizing music videos for the various songs before he releases the full album later in November. Having witnessed what other artists are doing internationally, Navio has focussed on pan-African collaborations.One of the artists he has collaborated with on Power is Nigeria’s Burna Boy on a single called 'Besile', the video of which was filmed in Uganda and celebrates the two artists’ achievements in the music industry. The new album also sees Navio working with the likes of Ghana’s Reekado Banks, Tanzania’s Mr. Blue and Uganda’s top female MC Keko.

The new album will be Navio's fourth and follows Pride, which was released in December 2013. It featured collaborations with Nigerian stars Wizkid, Ice Prince and Dr Sid, Kenyan artists Madtraxx and Mercy Myrah, as well as Joanita Kawalya of local legends Afrigo Band. He has also collaborated with Kenyan boy band Sauti Sol and said he is keen to get back into the studio to work with them again.

Born Daniel Lubwama Kigozi, Navio was part of the award-winning hip-hop group Klear Kut that introduced the term 'Ugaflow' to describe Uganda's hip-hop scene. Klear Kut was formed when Navio was just 16 and it included his close friends Tom 'Tha Mith' Mayanja, Jonathan 'J-Baller' Leslie, Abba 'Langman' Lang and Habib Abdul Hussein (aka Papito). While the other members went on to pursue their education, Navio continued to create music. Today he is best known for successful solo hits such as ‘Ngalo’, ‘Bugumu’, ‘One & Only’ and ‘On and On’, which featured American R&B legend Keith Sweat. He recently opened for another American star, Ne-Yo, who performed in Kampala on 30 October. Navio is also one of the artists featured on the current third season of TV talent show Coke Studio Africa.