NSG has Kampala on its feet despite abrupt ending and sound issues

For African musicians seeking to break into the English-speaking global music market, Uganda has increasingly become an important testing ground.

From Burna Boy and Rema to Ayra Starr, several West African stars have used Ugandan audiences as part of their journey to wider international recognition.

British Afro-swing and hip-hop collective NSG returned to Kampala for their second show, bringing their Sounds of the Diaspora concert to the UMA Show Grounds in Lugogo last weekend.

The six-member group — OGD, Kruddz, Mojo, Dope, Papii Abz, and Mxjib, had the predominantly Gen Z audience on its feet throughout the night, with many fans refusing to leave even after the performance ended.

The evening had a slow start, and by 8pm, only a handful of revellers had arrived. Fans posed for photographs at the entrance beneath the NSG banner as the venue gradually filled.

Ugandan acts including Fik Fameica, Mun G, and Karole Kasita performed as curtain-raisers, but it was clear that many fans had come primarily for the British collective.

The concert was held to celebrate NSG's second album, Sounds of the Diaspora 2, and expectations were high. Their previous Kampala appearance at the Lugogo Hockey Grounds had established a loyal following, making the move to the larger UMA venue a natural step up.

Fans sang along word-for-word to songs such as "OT Bop," "Options," "Lupita," "Tonight," and "Mansa Musa." For a crowd that appeared to know the music by heart, sound quality seemed almost secondary to the excitement of seeing the group perform live.

However, the production was a notable weakness. The sound was not as crisp as expected for a concert of this scale. The problem became particularly noticeable when Joshua Baraka took the stage, with the high-pitched vocals from his microphone sounding flattened and distorted.

It was a familiar problem for concertgoers, who had encountered similar sound issues during NSG's first Ugandan show in 2023.

The group largely concentrated on its biggest hits, with occasional melodic moments such as "Tonight." Many fans were hoping for an extended set and deeper cuts from the collective's catalogue.

The short set was partly influenced by the midnight concert deadline. NSG were reportedly allowed additional time, but the performance still came to an abrupt end around 12:30am.

For a crowd that had spent hours waiting, the ending felt more like an interruption than a conclusion. The energy inside the venue suggested that the audience was ready for much more.

As "Mansa Musa" played in the background, fans lingered rather than immediately heading home, seemingly expecting the show to continue. They were instead directed towards an after-party in the area.

For many, it was an unsatisfying ending to a night that had only just reached its peak.

NSG's ability to command a large Kampala crowd, despite limited performance time and production challenges, showed the strength of their following. Whether NSG can translate that momentum into the kind of global success achieved by artists such as Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr remains to be seen.

But judging by the voices, phone lights, and lyrics shouted back at the stage, Kampala's young music fans are already willing to give them a chance.