Uganda’s next wave of musical talent unveiled at Nyege Nyege

________________

At the heart of this year’s Nyege Nyege Festival at Kalagala falls, something meaningful unfolded beyond the roaring stages and lightning-fast DJ sets.

Young Ugandan creatives gathered to celebrate a milestone, the culmination of the Yo Voice Be Hard (YVBH) mentorship programme, a year-long journey designed to grow the next generation of music and performance talent.

The selected artists Hoaf Stain, Chiron, Nana Nyadia, Kezerod, Mitrikpwe Patricia, Vini Mercy, Single Dee, Authentic Voices Africa, Raso Mucki, and KaRungi were drawn from a wide pool and were eager to showcase their craft. What could have been just another festival side event instead felt like a cultural turning point.

The European Union, alongside EUNIC partners including Goethe-Zentrum, Alliance Française, and the British Council, used the moment to reaffirm a bold message: Uganda’s creative economy is worth investing in loudly.

EU Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Jan Sadek interacts with the artistes at Nyege Nyege. (Photo by Ranell Dickson Nsereko)

EU Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Jan Sadek, spoke with the excitement of someone discovering Uganda’s dynamic creative pulse firsthand. As the first ambassador to ever attend the Nyege Nyege festival, his words carried weight.

“The Yo Voice Be Hard initiative is a powerful example of how creativity can unlock opportunities for young people,” he said. The EU will continue investing in Uganda’s creative economy because culture drives identity, jobs, and tourism,” Sadek assured.

For the ten emerging artists mentored through the programme, dancers, musicians, and performers, this wasn’t just praise; it was validation. Their journey has included masterclasses, tools to professionalise their craft, and rare international exposure. On this global stage, with festival attendees from over 34 countries, their final performances felt like the beginning of something bigger.

British Council Creative Economy lead, Rasheeda Nalumoso, echoed this momentum. “This programme has transformed artistic journeys.  These young creatives are beginning to own their space in the industry,” Nalumoso said.

Kangulumira Town Council Mayor, Robert Kiggundu, called on youth to see art not as a hobby but as meaningful work. “Music and art are employers. These skills can build livelihoods,” he encouraged.

Beyond celebration, the event highlighted an ecosystem emerging around Uganda’s arts scene from Belgium’s Kiosk Radio collaborations to France’s masterclasses and Denmark’s newly launched artistic space, The Hive.

As the afternoon closed with electrifying performances from the mentees, one message was unmistakable. The mentorship programme was worth it.