Uganda’s Vinka named Spotify EQUAL Africa artist for October 

EQUAL Africa is an initiative aimed at reducing gender inequality in the music industry and highlighting and amplifying the voices of female artists from across the continent. 

Vinka joins a cohort of outstanding artists such as Makhadzi (South Africa), Maandy (Kenya) and Xenia Manasseh (Kenya), among others, who have been featured in the programme. 

Vinka’s introduction to music started with artists such as Awilo Longomba and Koffi Olomide whose music was played regularly while she was growing up. She later became a dancer before going into an artist management career. 

“When I started working as an artist manager at the record company, I fell in love with music and took it up when the opportunity arose,” Vinka said. 

The switch from technical riders to the mic was the start of a thriving music career in which Vinka has produced some well-received songs like ‘Malaika’ and ‘Thank God’. Her commitment to the craft was also made clear during a campaign she ran in 2019 to release a new single on the first Friday of every month of the year. 

Not one to be pigeonholed by genre, Vinka leans into dancehall and other African sounds. She describes her music as catchy with a unique voice, tone and vibe. 

“Vinka is testament to Uganda’s vibrant and thriving music industry,” Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, said. “She is a prime example of a female artist on the continent disrupting the music industry with her unorthodox and innovative music marketing techniques.” 

On the advice she can share with aspiring young artists, Vinka said: “They have to believe in themselves, stay focused and never stop. You have to invest your time and sweat to make it work.” 

Listen to the EQUAL Africa playlist here.