By Steven Odeke

Over 26 Africa's popular musicians who will feature in this year's Coke Studio Africa, an African music show run by The Coca-Cola Company to showcase the diversity of African music on the continent, and something close to 52 new songs will be performed in the nine music shows for this edition.

Uganda will be represented by Jose Chameleone, Maurice Kirya, Juliana Kanyomozi and Keko while other countries will send in musicians like Juacali (Kenya), Fid Q (Tanzania), Neyma (Mozambique), 2 Face Idibia and Ice Prince both from Nigeria.

The show is non-competitive. It brings established artistes and upcoming ones together to record and perform songs chosen, to bring out the diversity of African talent.

For the first time these artists will collaborate in mash-ups, that is to blend pre-recorded songs or compositions by overlaying the track of one song seamlessly over the track of another to create a new piece featuring both musicians.

The show's core element being "A celebration of African music" will have Grammy Award winning musician and producer ZwaiBala, famous for South African Kwaito group TKZee, as the show's music director while Brett Lotriet, a renowned International TV director and producer will be working as the show's series producer.

The featured musicians will be expected to present new tracks each week to be produced by both local and international producers who include Jaaz Odongo, Eric Musyoka and Kevin Provoke from Kenya, Cobhams Asuquo, Masterkraft and Chopstix from Nigeria, Owour Arunga from USA, Nahreel from Tanzania and Silvastone from the UK.

Coca-Cola Uganda Brand Manager, Rodney Nzioka says that this edition's main objective "is to reinvent the way music captures the imagination and heart of our continent." 

Kenya Airways, partners of this edition, will fly in all the Coke Studio Africa artistes and producers.

Artist Line-up
 
Uganda
•    Jose Chameleon
•    Maurice Kirya
•    Keko
•    Juliana
Kenya
•    Elani
•    Juacali
•    Wangeci
•    Avril
Tanzania
•    Ali Kiba
•    Vanessa Mdee
•    Ben Pol
•    Fid Q
Mozambique
•    Neyma
•    Dama Do Bling
•    G2
•    Hernani De Silva
Nigeria
•    2 Face Idibia
•    M.I
•    Ice Prince
•    Afro Dija
•    Seyi Shay
•    Eva
•    Olamide
•    Flavour
•    Yemi Alade
•    Chidinma
•    Olamide