Giovanni Kiyingi

Giovanni Kiyingi is a Ugandan World,folk,house music artist and multi- instrumentalist.

Giovanni Kiyingi’s sound is defined by rich instrumental textures and rhythmic influences from Uganda, Africa and beyond. Kiyingi’s music is informed by the culture of his people and is a medium to tell the new generation about the country’s rich cultural history.

He plays indigenous instruments like Tube fiddle (Endingidi), Thumb Piano (Akogo), African harp (Adungu) and Traditional flute (Endere) etc.

Kiyingi has performed at music festivals across Africa and the rest of the world. He has shared the stage with renowned artists. From his home country he has shared the stage with PAM Award winner Suzan Kerunen, Ssewa Ssewa and Myko Ouma. Across the borders he has performed alongside South Africa’s Mathambo, Ethiopia’s renowned Jazzist Mulatu Astatke (father of Etho- jazz) and Kenya’s Makadem, and Sarabi band.

He has performed at festivals such as Bayimba International Festival of the Arts, Pearl Rhythm and Milege World Music Festival in Uganda; Sondeka Arts Festival and Pawa Street Arts Festival in Kenya as well as the Fete de la Musique; Illimba cultural festival in Tanzania. In Europe he has performed at the Harmonie festival in Germany.

Kiyingi was one of the Ugandan artists chosen alongside Fr Michael Ssenfuma to welcome Pope Francis to Uganda at Kololo Air strip on 27 November 2015 with a theme song 'New Day', to a crowd of more than 10 000 in Uganda. At the end of 2016 he released his third album Amakondeere.