Uganda: Bayimba Festival announces line-up

The festival will feature more than 1 000 performing artists on six stages representing disciplines such as music, dance, fashion, film, photography, installation art, theatre, poetry and comedy.

Ugandan musicians confirmed so far include Jose Chameleone, Fred Sebatta & Matendo Band, Chance Nalubega, Kabuye Semboga, Ziggy D & the Groovetones and Afrigo Band, among others.

The line-up will also feature international acts Holly Rey (South Africa), The Soil (South Africa), Swahili Ally (Tanzania), Shamsi Music (Kenya), Shane Palko (US), Pseudopolis & Lewis Lowe (UK), Bolivar Mvulu (DRC/Netherlands), the Ancient Astronauts (Germany/Uganda/Kenya/DRC) and others.

New dates and venue

A couple of changes have been made to the 2018 edition of the festival. Whereas the festival was previously held on the third weekend of September, this year's celebration of the arts will start in the first week of August.

The organisers have also moved the event from its traditional location at the National Theatre in the capital Kampala to Lunkulu Island on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Festival director Faisal Kiwewa said the new location would guarantee the sustainability of the festival.

“Since the beginning Bayimba has always wanted to have a venue of its own to plan and sustain the festival,” he said.

“We have been on the lookout for spaces and we happened to find this amazing island to purchase for that purpose.”

Kiwewa said the new venue, which is accessible either by road or boat, was conducive to accommodate the various disciplines planned for the festival.

“The programming is already changing to fit into the new surroundings. This year there is a focus on acts that are expected to attract the local communities," he said.

Kiwewa said the 100-acre island would also be used for other activities planned by the Bayimba Foundation throughout the year.

Visit the official Bayimba Festival website for tickets and line-up updates.