The lush greens of Jinja Golf Course transformed this past weekend with the festival bliss of the annual Uganda Waragi Nyege Nyege.
The four electrifying days from Thursday to Sunday saw the festival pulsate with energy from thousands of beating hearts, all united by a love for music, culture and uninhibited fun.
A Global Stage, Locally Crafted
Nyege Nyege shone a spotlight on the transformative power of unity and music tourism . International artists and performers brought a taste of their home countries while local artistry was present and flourishing.
Ugandans showcased their range from fashion and crafts to captivating performances on the various stages while blending sounds and experiences for a unique overall cultural immersion.
The Spirit of Ug stage was hard to miss as the dance troupes like Uganda’s Imagit Cultural Group, Burundi’s Intare Performance Group and the Bwindi Batwa Dancers captivated audiences with their intricate footwork, energetic drumbeats and acrobatic leaps. This intermingling of cultures speaks to the spirit of unity and appreciation for diverse artistic expression forms that have become synonymous with the festival, fostered by the spirit that binds us, Uganda Waragi.
Mama Nyege Nyege Makes a Surprise Appearance
Day 3 witnessed a delightful surprise when Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, affectionately dubbed “Mama Nyege Nyege” for her unwavering support for the festival since its inception. This visit underscored the festival’s significance – as a musical extravaganza and as a platform for community engagement and celebration.
Nights Filled with Stars (and Rising )
Intermittent rain kept the tents and experiential stages busy in the earlier parts of the days with something for everyone going on across the Jinja Golf Course grounds;
Walking into venue, sight of the Dark Star stage gave the appearance of a blackhole from which futuristic sounds emerged including the Authentic Voices Africa Uganda, Yao Bobby & Simon Grab from Togo & Switzerland, Norway’s Sturle Dagsland and Tabideee from Sudan.
The “no sleeping” memo was loudest at the lively house and kwaito sounds in the Hakuna Kulala setup. Acts like Brazil’s Trap Funk & Alvio, Scorpio Qveen from France, Dadaman from South Africa and Germany’s Acid Pauli gave their global spins to the sounds that local DJs like Kamali and Chapat have been mixing to keep people quick-stepping and body popping