The Mith and Lydia Jazmine captivate Kampala with double album premieres
From the lyrical grit of The Mith to the radiant soul of Lydia Jazmine, this city wasn’t just hearing music, it was feeling it. Kampala was listening.
The Mith performing during his Bali Okwabwe album listening party. Photo by Ignatius Kamya
By Ranell Dickson Nsereko
Journalists @New Vision
Over the weekend, Kampala’s music faithful were fed a sonic feast with two extraordinary album listening parties.
From the lyrical grit of The Mith to the radiant soul of Lydia Jazmine, this city wasn’t just hearing music, it was feeling it. Kampala was listening.
Last Friday, Shisa Nyama in Bugolobi turned into sacred ground for hip hop heads as Mr. So UG, The Mith, premiered his long-awaited album The Ugandan Vol. 2 – Bali-Okwabwe. The listening party kicked off six hours before the album hit digital stores, giving those in attendance an exclusive first listen to a body of work five years in the making.
Fans enjoying The Mith's Bali Okwabwe album. Photo by Ignatius Kamya
The venue filled with tastemakers, hip hop veterans, fashion-forward fans, and industry leaders who didn’t just come to party, they came to connect with music that speaks truth, pain, pride, and purpose.
Bali-Okwabwe, which loosely means "those who figure it out from the roots," is a celebration of hustle, identity, and lyrical craftsmanship.
Fans enjoying The Mith's Bali Okwabwe album. Photo by Ignatius Kamya
The 15-track album is a genre-melding experience built on a hip hop foundation with touches of RnB, Afrobeats, and Luganda folklore. Tracks like Tulo Tulo and the fan-favorite Don’t Worry captivated.
Executive producer Dagg Mizzo handled the bulk of the production, while Sam Lamara worked magic on the engineering.
A fan got an opportunity to ask a question about the Bali Okwabwe album. Photo by Ignatius Kamya
The guest list included a who-is-who of Uganda’s creative elite, Julaina Kaggwa, The Mulondos, Big Tril, The Ninja C, Pryce Teeba and more. The highlight was The Mith’s raw openness during the Q&A session, where he let fans into the heart of his creative process.
Enter Lydia Jazmine
On Sunday, Lydia Jazmine elevated the tempo with a glamorous listening party for her debut lazily-titled album, The One & Only, at the chic Noni Vie. The invite-only soirée also doubled as her birthday party.
LJ looked abit exhuasted. PHOTO: Janan kisitu
Draped in a shimmering red outfit, Jazmine glowed as she performed selected tracks from the 15-track project. From the moment she stepped on stage, it was clear this wasn’t just an album rollout, it was an emotional unveiling of her soul. "This is my other identification," she confessed. "I’ve cooked this for over two years.”
Eddy Kenzo talks to a fan at the Jazmine show. PHOTO:Janan kisitu
The album is an Afro-fusion masterpiece, blending love ballads, possible club bangers and soulful melodies. It features continental powerhouses like Skales (Nigeria), Bwiza (Rwanda), Lava Lava (Tanzania), and locals like Blu3, Elijah Kitaka, and Jose Chameleone. Produced by a star-studded lineup including Artin, Nessim, Bass Boi and Gopa Beatz, the album showcases a matured and self-assured Jazmine.
Kataleya and Kandle appeared to show support. PHOTO: Janan Kisitu
The audience, which included Jose Chameleone, Eddy Kenzo, Karole Kasita, and media tastemakers, gave glowing reviews. Hugs and laughter filled the air.
What both events proved is that Kampala is not just a city of consumers, it’s a city of curators. Of listeners who crave substance, sound quality and stories that reflect their lives and dreams .