Uganda: Nyege Nyege line-up confirmed

The Nyege Nyege 2017 line-up is out. Cameroonian superstar Reniss, who has taken over the continent with her hit ‘La Sauce’, will appear for the first time in East Africa alongside rapper Jovi. Ghanaian DJ/producer Gafacci will also make his regional debut as Jowaa, representing cutting-edge African electronic music. This year’s festival will also be the East African premiere for South African Gqom pioneers Cruel Boyz.

Lisbon’s batida king DJ NK, Italian percussive performance artists Ninos Du Brasil, Germany’s Harmonious Thelonious, Ireland ‘outernationalist’ Peter Power and Holland's dancefloor legend DJ Marcelle will all make their first appearances in Africa, while Sisso Records will give Uganda its first taste of the 170bpm singeli music.

The Arts Council (UK) and NTS Radio, an influential online platform for new and old music, will curate a special stage on the festival’s first night with British DJs Moxie, AG, Anu and Skinny Macho.

Many of the international acts will be in Kampala for a month ahead of the festival to collaborate with Ugandan musicians and prepare performances for this year’s edition. The 2017 edition places special emphasis on the rich diversity of Ugandan traditional music with 13 performance troupes from different regions including the Domadana Kadodi Performers and Ennanga Vision, a collaboration with Owiny Sigoma’s Jesse Hackett and Buganda Cultural Ensemble’s Albert Ssempeke.

Nyege Nyege 2017 is supported by Boutiq Foundation, Talent Africa, NTS Radio, Resident Advisor, East African Breweries and Nyege Nyege Tapes. Artists have also agreed to participate in the festival for an honorarium.

Spearheaded by artistic directors Arlen Dilsizian and Derek Debru, Nyege Nyege International Music Festival is organised and curated by the Boutiq Foundation, a community-based organisation in Kampala, Uganda, that aims to develop the local arts and culture industry by creating platforms and opportunities for upcoming artists. The festival aims to connect underground musicians from Africa with one another and with producers and musicians working on African music outside the continent.

The 2016 edition saw more than 200 local and international artists take to the stage in front of 3 000 festivalgoers, and attracted a global audience thanks to its unique presentation of African music. In previous years the festival has served as the East African debut for kuduro pioneer DJ Marfox, satirical Ghanaian rappers FOKN Bois, Scottish sound system Mungo’s Hi-Fi, Niger-based synth pioneer Mamman Sani, South African house producer Aero Manyelo, Burkinabe rapper Joey Le Soldat, North African electronic music collective Arabstazy, Senegalese electronic producer Ibaaku and Mozambican-Ghanaian duo Gato Preto.

Early bird tickets for this year’s 72-hour celebration will be available to purchase online at www.nyegenyege.com for 100 000 Ugandan shillings ($30) from 15 May.

For more information contact the festival organisers Derek Debru or Arlen Dilsizian on [email protected] or head to www.nyegenyege.com.

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