For the Ugandan super-event’s 9th edition from November 14-17, the Nyege Nyege family is inviting over 300 artists from 30 countries to celebrate the kaleidoscopic sounds and performances of the world’s most exciting artists.
Nine years in and Nyege Nyege continues to overwhelm the scene with its unexpected combinations of experimental electronic and local tradition. Picking up favorites and like-minded outsiders from the tours around the world, Nyege Nyege has amassed a community of avant-garde artists that is set to explode on the riverbanks of the Nile this November. With over 300 artists from East Africa and beyond, this ninth go around is more than just a repeat. This year we can expect new venues, new artists, and a denser program that includes international technicians and local legends. Despite the expected calls to ban the festival from local ministries, citing moral concerns that date back to the earliest of Nyege’s events, it’s full steam ahead, “rooted in a powerful symbol of unity and flow”. With several hundred international tourists expected to make the trek to the Pearl of Africa, and a mass of local and East African participants lit into action by Nairboi warmups and Gulu Full Moon parties, there’s no stopping this year’s Afrogalactic Carnival.
Tapping into the Ethereal Essence
This year’s theme was imagined into fabric words by Rwandese multidisciplinary artist and fashion designer Masa Mara. “In the mystical realm of Nyege Nyege, where the pulsating beats of life intertwine with the elegant movements of spirits, there exists a mythical creature known as the Ethereal Essence. It embodies the very essence of existence, its form akin to a majestic river, flowing with a timeless grace yet holding within it the mysteries of the universe.” Transcending boundaries and binding souls… The “Ethereal Essence” pictured below makes up the tentacular experience of Nyege Nyege. This includes the moving carts of local artists like DJ Decimal whose “ice cream truck” beats power the grounds inbetween, or surprising teasers like that of Uganda’s Soft Ground Wrestling crew expected to pile-drive the Essence’s “heel”. Past editions have included the mysterious work of witch doctors who temper the rain or DRC’s Kinact collective’s recycled monsters on parade. Nyege’s famous appetite for “boundless reach” now spread in the colors of sci-fi carnival.
Nyege in the city
There is also an update to this year’s new location, set at Jinja Golf Course, bordering the city of Jinja where daytime programming will invite festival goers to join the “Nyege in the City” everyday from 8AM to 3PM. Hosted in 20+ venues in Jinja town right on the Source of the Nile, where Lake Victoria feeds into the world’s longest river. Strolling into the city one can find food stalls serving Uganda’s famous chapati rolex breakfast wraps, local drinkeries, and of course a host of accommodation from tents to resorts. It’s also a chance to include the local population into the festivities, with previous Nyege editions creating an informal “outer Nyege” experience full of third party merch, local sound systems, and tailgates that can now have a chance to be a part of the musical experience.
The Spirit of Uganda Stage
Nyege will also be present a “Spirit of Uganda” stage for this year’s festivities. The stage will include the “enchanting songs of the 𝑩𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊 𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒘𝒂 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒔 to the wisdom of thumb piano legend and respected griot 𝑬𝒌𝒖𝒌𝒂 to the ekyeshongoro singing of 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒌𝒚𝒆 from the Banyankole tradition, to the hypnotic polyrhythms of the globally acclaimed 𝑵𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆 𝑬𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 and their unique giant xylophone of the host Kingdom of Busoga and Jinja’s very own 𝑵𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔 one of the oldest active cultural troupes of Uganda, to Teso superstar 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑨𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 presented in collaboration with Akogo Festival, who will bring his full orchestra of large and small thumb pianos, and from Northern Uganda’s Acholi traditions we’ll experience the wild dances and rhythms of 𝑶𝒅𝒐𝒌𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒕 𝑮𝒘𝒐𝒌-𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒊. Presented in collaboration with Wer Waa Festival along with Nyege Nyege royalty and Acholi superstar 𝑶𝒕𝒊𝒎 𝑨𝒍𝒑𝒉𝒂, we’ll also welcome the 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒚𝒊 𝑻𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒂 in collaboration with the Imbalu Festival, who will bring the energy of the Imbalu, the circumcision ritual of the Bamasaba people of Eastern Uganda, and finally one of Nyege favourites, the Burundian 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑, one of the finest percussion ensembles in the country.”
Glitter and Chaos
Finally there’s no lack of hardcore DJ sets and live performances pushing the boundaries of the world’s electronica. There are, of course, the originals of the Nyege crew on the lineup like Authentically Plastic, Turkana, or Rey Sapienz, including some OGs with recently expanded catalogs like Hibotep’s ANGELS ROCK, R3IGN DROPS’ SIREN’S GRIMORE, or Kampire and her new A Dancefloor in Ndola compilation. Or some NNT expanded catalog features from Arsenal Mikebe and a Hakuna Kulala drop with Violence Gratuite. Fan favorites like cyber-singeli flyboy DJ Travella, balani president DJ Diaki, and homemade synth pioneer Afrorack are also on deck. Festival cult classics like Yao Bobby & Simon Grab whose mixture of technical noise and Togolese rap have been burned into previous attendees memories are also back by popular demand. The Singeli Movement won’t be missed, this time bringing along new MCs like K Zungu and founding fathers Sisso, Bamba Pana, and more. And finally, some new talent from international backgrounds like Eastern Margin’s Fitnesss and Paris’ caraibe-core innovator Crustasex will be giving new life to no less than seven stages across the grounds.
Found out more about Nyege Nyege 2024 here.
