When the DJs started to replace wedding bands in northern Uganda.
A month before their festival, Nyege Nyege collective announced two new releases: the compilation Electro Acholi Kaboom from Northern Uganda on Nyege Nyege Tapes and a new EP from Rey Sapienz via Hakuna Kulala.
Made from tracks recorded in the ’00s, Electro Acholi Kaboom from Northern Uganda explore the birth of electronic acholi dance music in Northern Uganda.
Initially conceived in around 2003 when north Uganda was still involved in a devastating civil war, electronic variations of traditional acholi courtship songs were originally performed at weddings to replace the larger and more expensive larakaraka wedding bands that young couples could no longer afford under wartime conditions.
The compilation’s tracks were originally recorded between 2003 and 2008 in various studios in the two cities, and feature renowned acholi vocalists including Otim Alpha, Bosmic Otim, Jeff Kornodo and Zing Zang & City Boy.
Electro Acholi Kaboom from Northern Uganda, out on 12th September via Nyege Nyege Tapes.
Planned for release on Hakuna Kulala on 22nd August, Mushoro by Congolese, Kampala-based producer Rey Sapienz abstractly explores Soukous, a genre of dance music from the Congo basin, and Kalindula, an up-temple style of music which uses a kalindula bass guitar. The six-track release is reminiscent of forward-thinking, Congolose productions by artists such as Denis Mpunga and Zazou Bikaye.
Mushoro by Rey Sapiezn, out on 22nd August via Hakuna Kulala.
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