Uganda: Nyege Nyege reveals 2019 festival line-up

Musicians from more than 30 countries will perform at Nile Discovery Beach in Jinja, Uganda, from 5 to 8 September. This year’s line-up was drawn mainly from East Africa, Asia, the US and South America. The artists will perform on two stages: The Dark Star Stage, which will focus on electronic music, and the Spirit of Uganda Stage, which will feature traditional musicians and dancers.

Ugandan artists will make up the bulk of the programming. They include Authentically Plastic, Catu Diosis, The Cranes, Don Zilla, DTM Funk, DJ Kampire, Afrorack, Swordman Kitala, AO the Walker, Faizal Mostrixx, MoRoots, Nakibembe Xylophone Troupe, Ocen, Ras Brown, Fonkodelics Arkestra, Kalalu Traditional Troupe, and Decay aka Cardi Monáe. 

Putting Tanzania on the map will be Jay Mitta, Bamba Pana & Makaveli, MCZO & Duke, Nana, Rehema Tajira and Sisso. Ethiopia will be represented by Hibotep, Lady Ha$h and Armaghedion, while Kid Gringo and Opium Hum will be jetting in from Denmark.

Oyisse, Poko Poko, Rey Sapienz, C-Drik and Chris Man and Moustiq et la Cours des Grands will represent the DRC.

Bearing the Kenyan flag will be KMRU, The Seeds of Datura and Slikback, while Turkana from South Sudan will be making her East African debut.

Travelling all the way from China will be 33EMYBW, Bonaventure (CD/CH), Gooooose, Hyph11e and Kilo-Vee. France is well represented by MOESHA 13, Bamao Yendé, Maraboutage, Limbololo Soundsystem and DJ PÖ, while Sven Kacirek and Bill Kouligas will add German flare to the event.

The UK line-up will feature Josey Rebelle, David Tinning, Samedia Shebeen, Juan Atkins and Elvin Brandhi. American artists include Suzi Analogue, Modus Operandi, EQ Why and Shyboi.

The rest of the line-up includes Bad Sista (Brazil), DJ Die Soon (Japan), DJ Marcelle (Netherlands), Jokkoo (Spain), Qwasa Qwasa (Belgium), G-Low (Rwanda), Chabela (Ivory Coast), Wulffluw XCIV (Russia), Jako Maron (Reunion) and Morgiana Hz (Poland).

Festival co-founder Derek Debru says the festival has seen tremendous growth as its fifth edition draws near. He said the festival's success could be attributed to the support from the local community.

"It really took a lot of time for people to know about us and then to understand what the whole thing was about," he said. "At this point, they wouldn’t mind having Nyege Nyege all year long. It’s a bit like Christmas when 10 000 people show up in your community for a weekend of fun."

Debru said the festival's programming had also improved over the years because the organisers had learnt from some of the best events outside Uganda.

"We look at what festivals in the region programme and always keep an eye on their line-up to find something that might suit our programme. You also want to see what makes others unique, and then do something else, but if something is great, then why not bring it to Nyege Nyege. The food experience at MTN Bushfire festival, for example, that’s something we’ll try and replicate at Nyege this year."

Debru said the festival had also contributed to social cohesion and economic growth in the area.

"We give a lot of jobs and businesses to the host community. Last year, they took things to another level by basically creating a temporary town outside of the festival with anything from nyama choma [roast beef] to the silent disco and 24-hour dancehall joints," he said.

For more information, visit the Nyege Nyege official website.